UPDATE: Duplex damaged by debris from construction site next door

| Development | West Seattle news

(Texted photos)

12:43 PM: Cleanup is under way today in north Morgan Junction, where a duplex was damaged when part of an under-construction building next door at 5952 California SW fell down onto it last night. Nobody was hurt, and the duplex owner told us the damage wasn’t major, but questions remain about why it happened – the initial report was that the wind blew the pieces down, though last night’s short-lived wind didn’t seem particularly strong.

We checked city files for the project at 5952 California SW; they show its “plywood sheathing” had undergone a construction inspection by a private firm just last week. And now last night’s incident has led to a complaint filed today with the city Department of Construction and Inspections, asking for urgent investigation and action; we’re checking on that with SDCI, and also attempting to contact the project’s owner. It’s been seven years since an apartment building was first proposed for the site; the property was sold last year.

ADDED TUESDAY EVENING: We asked SDCI spokesperson Bryan Stevens about the newly filed complaint. Stevens replied, “Inspectors are aware and looking into it” but didn’t expect an update until tomorrow. The online file also indicates that evaluation of the complaint is “in progress.”

flimflam May 16, 2023 (12:57 pm)

If wind could blow down debris then it was clearly not secured properly.

yikes May 16, 2023 (1:03 pm)

Why are there windows on a building with no roof????

whataboutthecreedence May 16, 2023 (2:05 pm)

I was thinking the same thing. I work in the industry, and this site needs to be watched closely now.
v May 16, 2023 (3:44 pm)

That’s some terrible sequencing right there. Wonder how tall this building is going to be? Thankfully it wasn’t any taller and with windows installed.
uncle loco May 16, 2023 (4:02 pm)

Sometimes they will pre install the windows on the wall before they tilt it up to save time, especially when the adjacent property is so close. Looks like they pre installed the vents too. My guess is there wasn’t enough bracing to hold the wall up which will act like a sail even in moderate wind (especially with the windows pre installed). Pure speculation on my part though.

Mr J May 16, 2023 (1:58 pm)

Heard this last night, sounded like a truck dumped a bunch of timber in the street. I hope the people next door are ok.

Framers not Sailors May 16, 2023 (2:00 pm)

Debris?
It looks like a newly installed wall section, insufficient in temporary bracing, blew off the second story.

WSB May 16, 2023 (2:09 pm)

Sorry, I wasn’t sure what to call it, vacillated between pieces, debris, components.

shotinthefoot May 16, 2023 (2:13 pm)

It wasn’t even that windy last night. This is just poor construction. Hope SDCI comes to the same conclusion and shuts the site down.

Oh Seattle May 17, 2023 (12:28 am)

Doubtful. Although since this actually fell on another house maybe they will come out. We were reporting violations that were causing damage to our property in a less obvious way and they were not interested at all.

Danny May 16, 2023 (2:17 pm)

Wow, very late last night, I was walking towards my car where it sounded like someone was doing construction at one of the sites. It was unusual because it was so late but also because I couldn’t see anybody there. There’s 3 construction projects within the vicinity and I couldn’t figure out where the sounds were coming from. I wish I had investigated further but glad nobody was seriously hurt.

bolo May 16, 2023 (2:54 pm)

What is shown on the photos does not look like “plywood sheathing.”

uncle loco May 16, 2023 (4:11 pm)

The plywood is underneath that yellow stuff.
Curious George May 16, 2023 (4:47 pm)

The wall ‘looks’ like OSB with Dens Glass over it.I too think it was the lack of temporary support.

Mel May 16, 2023 (3:22 pm)

I drove by this a few days ago and was confused by their construction “style”. Looked like they had installed the upper floor windows before even finishing building the headers and rest of the framing. The windows were installed with what looked like a single temporary 2×4 across the tops. You can see one sticking out up high in both photos. I’m sure the weight of the windows on an unfinished wall plus even a small gust could have pulled them down.

uncle loco May 16, 2023 (7:29 pm)

A lot of the new apartments I’ve been working on have windows flush with the ceiling to allow more daylight. The rim joist acts as the header.

HS May 16, 2023 (4:13 pm)

Hmmm. This looks like vandalism on the construction site.

Rats May 16, 2023 (5:02 pm)

If we weren’t packed in like rats this could have just fallen on their own property.

ttt May 16, 2023 (5:39 pm)

When I drove by that yesterday, I thought that it didn’t look secure. There were windows in the structure with nothing to hold them in on the topside of the windows.

Colonel Mustard's Wrench May 16, 2023 (9:11 pm)

I strongly urge anyone adversely impacted by this jobsite file a complaint with SDCI (Seattle Department of Construction &Inspections).

https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/codes/make%C2%A0a-property-or-building-complaint

This faceless LLC will continue to try to get away with whatever they can.
SDCI will want to know about this issue.

WSB May 16, 2023 (9:27 pm)

Certainly anyone can file a complaint. But it is on SDCI’s radar following the complaint filed today – I verified that, though their spokesperson won’t have an update on the investigation status until tomorrow.
- Curious Neighbor May 17, 2023 (1:15 pm)
  
  I’m curious if the SDCI spokesperson had an update today. Site has been totally cleared of the incident and construction continuing. Seems like some kind of review should happen for worker safety before they just get back at it.
  - WSB May 17, 2023 (11:05 pm)
    
    No, so I’m trying again first thing in the morning. We went by the site this morning and noticed work was continuing. The complaint item in Seattle Services Portal says “construction investigation complete” as of this morning but no specifics.

Beveridge breeze May 16, 2023 (10:28 pm)

There actually were some strong gusts down that way last night around 7:45-8:15pm. I was at Beveridge Place sitting outside and remember looking at the construction of the tents thinking it was good they were anchored by weighted buckets and even then was still impressed that the fabric of the tents wasn’t getting torn at the places it was tied to the frame. We wound up moving inside because of the wind. And this was down at ground level in between buildings. Wind must have been stronger up at the level that wall was at.

Hammer in Hand May 17, 2023 (6:46 am)

Washington State L&I should be all over this sitewhere there is smoke, there is usually fire. Likely other violations, a walls falling from a structure is very serious lucky no one was injured

Scary Neighbor May 17, 2023 (12:05 pm)

L & I has already been called at least once earlier in the project. Everyone who lives nearby has been watching this crap show going on for months and none are surprised part of the building fell down. There are lots of reputable contractors and developers doing great work around West Seattle, but these guys are neither and need to be shut down.

LivesInWS May 17, 2023 (4:27 pm)

All that broken glass … I’d be really concerned how thorough the cleanup will be. It’s on the walkway going to the house entry stairs; will get tracked in. And imagine kids running barefoot along that side in the summer, or trying to weed or garden along that side.

Sorry, comment time is over.