tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post2111856057627777598..comments2024-03-25T13:42:25.771-05:00Comments on Advance Indianaâ„¢: Costly Cosmopolitan Fire Attributable To State Building Code VarianceGary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-46936068660151223582009-03-19T09:13:00.000-05:002009-03-19T09:13:00.000-05:00Again, I think when you factor in the shear size o...Again, I think when you factor in the shear size of the building(s) involved and their proximity to a densely populated area in the downtown, you strictly adhere to the building code requirements. Those townhouses are wood contruction, but they are below the threshold size for steel and concrete. One should consider whether steel and construction should be required for all construction abutting the canal. The building I live in was originally constructed as a 5-story building (the sixth floor added later) over 100 years ago. It was constructed of a combination of steel, concrete and wood (floors).Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-28347169837846699012009-03-19T08:37:00.000-05:002009-03-19T08:37:00.000-05:00Not to sound like a crank, but it's better that it...<B>Not to sound like a crank, but it's better that it burned up now prior to a hundred+ people moving in. They would be toast.</B><BR/><BR/>By the time the people moved in, they sprinkler system would have been up and running. As such, the system was a few weeks from being installed.<BR/><BR/>I personally can't blame them from using wood. Yes there are near-by townhomes/condos, but what are they made up? I looked at the building two days ago from the Canal. While it was good the homes to the north didn't go up, if those homes are made of wood, they would pose just as big of hazard as this building did. I find it odd that we require apartment type buildings to have spinkler systems, yet let single family residences be built within 15' yards or less of each other and they don't have to have such systems. The only thing saving urban areas, and the high density housing neighborhoods in the burbs, is our fire services.<BR/><BR/>Not that long ago, a house in Ransom Place burned down. The two neighboring homes would have went up (they actually did catch fire, but thankfully IFD got there in time to save those homes) totally, in fact, I bet the entire block, if not neighborhood, would have burned down. Even with this danger, if someone re-builds on that lot, they will be allowed to use wood framing _and_ not be required to have a sprinkler system. The embers of this two story house fire pose just as big of threat as the embers from the Cosmo fire. In the end, the thing that matters most is a good fire service to prevent entire city blocks from burning down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-60302112823396462722009-03-19T07:04:00.000-05:002009-03-19T07:04:00.000-05:00David Hannum, Chairman of Garmong Associates in Te...David Hannum, Chairman of Garmong Associates in Terre Haute, chairs the Commission.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-40392060736310632762009-03-19T06:31:00.000-05:002009-03-19T06:31:00.000-05:00There are a lot of questions:Who are on the commis...There are a lot of questions:<BR/>Who are on the commission who decided this blunder?<BR/><BR/>Is the commission the sole determining decision maker?<BR/><BR/>Are there no restrictions in a compacted area such as downtown?<BR/><BR/>How many other variances have been issued for downtown and why?<BR/><BR/>What steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again?Patriot Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986604576219564749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-77326680005502294172009-03-19T05:27:00.000-05:002009-03-19T05:27:00.000-05:00I tend to agree..this was a perfect storm...with a...I tend to agree..this was a perfect storm...with another couples of weeks work, this fire could have been relatively minor....depending on how it was torched and what was used. I think we need to be careful before paranoia takes over.artfugginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364503656694166926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-85018562531674936402009-03-18T21:24:00.000-05:002009-03-18T21:24:00.000-05:00I think everything residential on the west bank of...I think everything residential on the west bank of the canal is wood frame. Same for the condos on the east side that are adjacent to the Cosmos, for that matter. They were as far as I know completely undamaged despite being only a few feet away.<BR/><BR/>There's nothing magic about being 3 stories instead of 4 or 5. They are just as susceptible to fire. But I don't believe any have burned after construction was completed. <BR/><BR/>With functioning smoke/fire detectors, fire alarms wired into MECA dispatch and working sprinklers, this would have been nearly impossible to have happened.<BR/><BR/>I'm interesting in hearing what the arson investigation turned up. Surely there was a LOT of accelerant spread through the structure to get it going so hot, so fast. I wonder how many separate fires they think were started throughout.<BR/><BR/>But, I am pretty confident they'll have a very hard time getting tenants if they rebuild with the same materials.Downtown Indyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06239811599722585898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-64722553799593291592009-03-18T20:52:00.000-05:002009-03-18T20:52:00.000-05:00I assume the Spring Street developer got a varianc...I assume the Spring Street developer got a variance as well. That building is taller than 4 stories.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-78029436184536925512009-03-18T20:51:00.000-05:002009-03-18T20:51:00.000-05:00This is downtown, not the suburbs. Beyond the fire...This is downtown, not the suburbs. Beyond the fire hazard is the wind concern. Winds can be heavier in the downtown simply because of the wind tunneling effect among the tall buildings. That building would not have withstood the high winds we have experienced in the downtown in the past. It is hazard to the entire area of downtown around it. If you simply look at how difficult of a fire it was for firefighters to fight, you should understand what I'm talking about. I think the building commission would be wise to call in the firefighters who have to deal with buildings like this one before they grant such ridiculous variances that make the building code useless. There is condominium high rise on Spring Street that was built of wood construction. I told the owner when it was being built it was a horrible investment for anyone. The building won't last 30 years, if it's lucky enough not to succumb to fire or wind before then.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-83259055535574870632009-03-18T20:33:00.000-05:002009-03-18T20:33:00.000-05:00I think you're off the mark on this one. Sure it ...I think you're off the mark on this one. <BR/><BR/>Sure it was wood framed, but the burn characteristics of a structure that's still not closed in, has no fire resistance wallboard, no sprinker system, no fireblocks installed between sections, AND was torched probably with lots of gasoline differs greatly from one that's none of those things.<BR/><BR/>I don't think wood is the smartest design, but on the other hand it WAS within code other than the small area that dipped down to the canal level.<BR/><BR/>The variance seems to me to be little more than a technicality. Certainly not a political favor or anything sinister.Downtown Indyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06239811599722585898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-64861026516401049712009-03-18T17:59:00.000-05:002009-03-18T17:59:00.000-05:00Not to sound like a crank, but it's better that it...Not to sound like a crank, but it's better that it burned up now prior to a hundred+ people moving in. They would be toast.<BR/><BR/>Great job all around - giant wood buildings are really the way to go !Unigovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532072215831286109noreply@blogger.com