Thread by @ZacharyOS

"CRACKED, CRUMBLING BRICKS" - Late yesterday, Davenport dropped a trove of docs related to the collapse of 324 Main St. I was up late combing through them. Here's what I learned: (1/15)
iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2023-…

Inspector logs and reports paint a picture of a troubled property in ominous detail, leading up to its collapse. Far from ignoring these warnings, Davenport officials watched them in real-time. (2/15)

Back in 2020, a city inspector was gearing up to review the 80-unit property for rental recertification. They write the violations at the property—then owned by Waukee Investments LLC—were severe. (3/15)

When they brought these violations to Davenport's Director of Development and Neighborhood Services Rich Oswald, he said, “I’M NOT AFRAID OF CLOSING THE BUILDING DOWN. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.”

The inspection did proceed. But the city did not close the building. (4/15)

Even back in 2020, falling bricks were bad enough that a city fire marshall got involved.

It was at this time the city began to include Andrew Wold in emails involving the building with the “understanding” that Wold was in the process of purchasing the property. (5/15)

I parsed through the complaint logs since 2020. And it's a mess: 18 residents said their heat didn't work in the winter. The elevators were down. Ceiling tiles and windows were broken. A water leak got so bad it damaged units across the complex all the way to the ground. (6/15)

It was garbage though that set the city over the edge. A DPD Capt. said trash blocked exits. "In my opinion, there are several health and safety violations that put the residents in harm's way."

Wold was cited 19 times, wracking up a $4,500 fine. (7/15)

https://twitter.com/ZacharyOS/status/1663968712452390919?s=20

That's not to say Wold didn't push back. When the city reached out about a resident saying there wasn't heat in his unit, building manager Sarah Taylor wrote, “Lol! He has mental health issues. He moved out months ago.” (8/15)

In March, the city told Wold to clean up debris in his basement. Wold resisted saying tenants aren’t allowed in the basement. The city said it was a fire and pest risk and that failure to comply can ultimately result in the revocation of the building rental license. ... (9/15)

Wold eventually said he'd do it, but the debris wasn’t from "us" and will cost money and time to remove.

While his original position was it was debris was for ongoing construction, he changed his tune saying it was actually from “up to if not more than two owners ago.” (10/15)

Despite all of these documented complaints, residents were still required to pay rent. The landlord began eviction proceedings for some. All the while residents continued to raise concerns. (11/15)

Things came to a head as work began this year on the western wall.

While Wold's contracted engineer maintained that the building was safe for residents, a major utility refused to work in the area over the perceived danger. (12/15)
iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2023-…

4 days before the fall, Wold's engineer documented that window treatments were showing signs of warping under structural pressure. The bricks used to cover windows bulged outward by several inches. And a large patch of facade appeared ready to fall "imminently." (13/15)

While I'm not a fan of late nights, what I found in these reports prevented me from sleeping. I get into the details in the piece. I hope you'll give it a read and tell me what you make of it all. (14/15) iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2023-…

If you haven't already, @K_5mydearwatson and @peskyteske spoke with some of the contractors about what they saw while working on the building itself. Its a harrowing read. And also Well worth your time: (15/15)

https://twitter.com/peskyteske/status/1664056500304609281?s=20

CODA - Work like this is possible because of the great folks at @IowaPublicRadio and @NPRMidwestNews giving me time and resources to chase rabbits in eastern Iowa. If you don't already, become a sustaining member. Help us do quality journalism in Iowa.
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