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WARNING: DO NOT SHAKE! The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake inflicted grave damage on the city of Santa Cruz . The City now is promoting downtown redevelopment. City officials put the public's trust and taxpayer resources into construction of a six-story building at 1010 Pacific Avenue (Owner: Pacific Union Apartments; General Contractor: Daniel Silverie III, Inc.). We question whether the public's trust and resources were misplaced. The following issues may, in our opinion, affect the building's safety and longevity: » "Backfilling" around the subterranean parking structure. We fear the construction team's backfilling practices at the site - which is located in the bed of a now-re-routed river - compromise the structure's future. See correspondence & Photos » Concrete being dropped into forms for support columns from heights nearly triple the 5' limit that the Army Corps of Engineers applies to civil works structures. Photo » Separation of the concrete. The load-bearing capacity of the concrete columns, which support the 6-story residential/mixed-use structure, may now be less than anticipated in the design. (See photo at bottom-right) » Premature removal of concrete forms and other departures from industry standards of care for "curing" concrete. Photo » Extraordinary pumping of subterranean water. Photo In earthquake country, it's risky to mix water with potentially shifty soils and questionable concrete. See correspondence and additional photos.
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