Inspectors want to be sure that Market Square systems are up to code

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Oct 28, 1998

The La Crosse Inspection Department Tuesday directed the developers of the Market Square Ramp and Apartments not to Sheetrock apartment walls until inspectors make sure all systems inside are up to code.

City and state inspectors met with Conrad Seymour, vice president of development for Market Square LLC, an architect on the project, and three members of the La Crosse Common Council Tuesday morning, said Mark McConaughey, director of inspections.

"We wanted to get some resolution to questions we have been asking and haven't gotten answers to," he said. "The project is at the point where if we do not get these questions answered and the noncompliance corrected, it will be too late to do, because the walls will be sealed."

The meeting followed McConaughey's letter to Seymour last Friday in which he said the developers' failure to cooperate with the Inspection Department would result in stop work orders on the entire construction until the concerns are resolved.

"The department has had on-going concerns with various components of the construction of the housing portions of this construction that have gone unresolved," McConaughey said in the letter "Numerous plumbing noncompliance issues have not been corrected. Fire stopping installations where required are not installed, and in some locations where stopping has been installed, they do not appear to be installed to standards Heating equipment and duct work installation questions have not been answered to the satisfaction of this department. All of the matters are life-safety concerns that the various codes take very seriously."

All issues were discussed at Tuesday's meeting, McConaughey said. "We told them not to close up any more walls until they correct them. We are hoping we caught it soon enough to make sure we have a better handle on it."

The inspectors have been talking with individual subcontractors, he said. When Seymour learned of the concerns, McConaughey said, he was responsive.

"This is not unusual, especially on a big project," said Public Works Director Pat Caffrey. "I think there was a communications problem. Lots of things are going on. Seymour has indicated he will do whatever he needs to bring it into compliance."

Seymour said he did not think that responding to the Inspection Department's concerns will delay completion of the project. Part of the ramp is expected to open in December, Caffrey said.

Seymour said he hopes lower floors of apartments will be ready around Dec. 1, and the remaining floors before Jan. 1.

The measures may cost Market Square LLC more money, Seymour said. "But what's right is right. We just have to do it."

He acknowledged that some of the concerns "have been hanging out there a month. I was not timely in getting it to them," he said. "I just have been very busy on this.

"Anyone who would look at this would realize it is a difficult project," he said. "No one is trying to not do their job properly. Once we resolve all these issues on the fifth floor, the rest are cupcakes because we know what to expect."

The apartments will be on floors five, six, seven and eight, plus two penthouses.

The inspectors had concerns with the fire stopping where mechanical piping and ductwork passes through walls, McConaughey said. Drilling has to be done so the passages do not offer a way for a fire to spread, he said.

Plumbing also is a concern, he said. The state approved plumbing plans, but the plumber did not follow those plans, he said. "There have been alterations to the point where the original plan has no purpose. We have noted noncompliant code violations throughout the building."

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning plans also were approved, McConaughey said. The developers did not like the unit that was approved, so they got another piece of equipment; but have not shown the city state-approved plans yet, he said.