How does DCRA let this happen? Building Collapse

[Anonymous]

Did you all see this from Sunday night?? An entire 5 story building under construction collapsed into the street. It was windy, but not THAT windy and I'm sorry, short of a tornado, aren't building supposed to be able to withstand this? I live nearby, and I and other neighbors have been complaining all along to DCRA about safety violations and corner-cutting on this project. It collapsed already once during the foundation phase. DCRA was out about a complaint less than a week before the collapse. How does the builder get away with such shoddy work? It's a miracle no one was killed.

https://wtop.com/dc/2021/03/building-collapses-in-northeast-as-winds-whip-through-dc/

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/building-under-construction-collapses-in-northeast-dc/2623769/

[Anonymous]

It's the builders fault. DCRA approves permits and checks work at points along the way. If they hired private inspectors, then that is on them. Insurance company will figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the builders fault. DCRA approves permits and checks work at points along the way. If they hired private inspectors, then that is on them. Insurance company will figure it out.

Isn't that the whole point of checking/inspections? To prevent dangerous incidents like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the builders fault. DCRA approves permits and checks work at points along the way. If they hired private inspectors, then that is on them. Insurance company will figure it out.

Isn't that the whole point of checking/inspections? To prevent dangerous incidents like this?

There are hundreds of building projects happening at any given time in DC, and wood framing like the one that collapsed can be put up in a matter of days. There's simply no way for inspectors to be at every building site often enough to prevent every accident.

The point of inspections is not to make sure every single building is built correctly, it's to catch enough of the ones that aren't to keep builders honest. Sadly there are unscrupulous people out there who will still take that risk to increase their profits, but that doesn't mean the system is useless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the builders fault. DCRA approves permits and checks work at points along the way. If they hired private inspectors, then that is on them. Insurance company will figure it out.

Isn't that the whole point of checking/inspections? To prevent dangerous incidents like this?

There are hundreds of building projects happening at any given time in DC, and wood framing like the one that collapsed can be put up in a matter of days. There's simply no way for inspectors to be at every building site often enough to prevent every accident.

The point of inspections is not to make sure every single building is built correctly, it's to catch enough of the ones that aren't to keep builders honest. Sadly there are unscrupulous people out there who will still take that risk to increase their profits, but that doesn't mean the system is useless.

Any suggestions of how to best work within the system in situations like this, where neighbors DID try to keep DCRA on top of the builder, as there had been issues all along? Mayor's office or something instead? I'm nervous that they're going to just clear it and start over as bad as before.

[Anonymous]

Yeah that building wasn't put up in a few days... it had been under construction for a while and it sounds like multiple stop work orders were issued over the summer, so it's surprising that they didn't keep a closer eye on it. I get they can't be detail oriented on everything but prior stop work orders seem like they would be a red flag for closer supervision.

[Anonymous]

DCRA is a mess. The worst agency in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah that building wasn't put up in a few days... it had been under construction for a while and it sounds like multiple stop work orders were issued over the summer, so it's surprising that they didn't keep a closer eye on it. I get they can't be detail oriented on everything but prior stop work orders seem like they would be a red flag for closer supervision.

Well it looks like nothing but cheap plywood - not really surprised it collapsed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah that building wasn't put up in a few days... it had been under construction for a while and it sounds like multiple stop work orders were issued over the summer, so it's surprising that they didn't keep a closer eye on it. I get they can't be detail oriented on everything but prior stop work orders seem like they would be a red flag for closer supervision.

Well it looks like nothing but cheap plywood - not really surprised it collapsed.

Yeah, I don't know anything about construction, but at 5 stories..shouldn't there be some support besides just...wood?

[Anonymous]

Fk dcra. Seriously. They just suck. Let’s see how much more they suck when they split into two agencies. But seriously no one knows what they are doing there.

[Anonymous]

So, do builders get fined or otherwise penalized when failures this egregious happen?

[Anonymous]

there's essentially no oversight by the city of developers. they let them do what they like.

[Anonymous]

DCRA is the worst. The onus in on me as the next door neighbor to stop unsafe construction next to me. It's ridiculous. There's a presumption of approval unless you can prove otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah that building wasn't put up in a few days... it had been under construction for a while and it sounds like multiple stop work orders were issued over the summer, so it's surprising that they didn't keep a closer eye on it. I get they can't be detail oriented on everything but prior stop work orders seem like they would be a red flag for closer supervision.

Well it looks like nothing but cheap plywood - not really surprised it collapsed.

Yeah, I don't know anything about construction, but at 5 stories..shouldn't there be some support besides just...wood?

DC permits the use of wood for most 5 story buildings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah that building wasn't put up in a few days... it had been under construction for a while and it sounds like multiple stop work orders were issued over the summer, so it's surprising that they didn't keep a closer eye on it. I get they can't be detail oriented on everything but prior stop work orders seem like they would be a red flag for closer supervision.

Well it looks like nothing but cheap plywood - not really surprised it collapsed.

Yeah, I don't know anything about construction, but at 5 stories..shouldn't there be some support besides just...wood?

Nope!
https://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/design-development/construction/multifamily-developers-turn-to-wood-frame-construction-to-cut-costs_o