CHIPPEWA FALLS — A Chippewa Falls apartment building that saw residents suddenly evacuated last month needs substantial repairs before they can return.
City Inspector Paul Lasiewicz released a report Wednesday on the damage observed at the Romeis Millstream Apartment complex, which is located at 509 High Street, along Duncan Creek. Residents were told June 25 that they had just hours to move out of the building because it was not safe.
“Based on the recommendations of the engineering reports and per city ordinance, the building is being placarded as ‘unfit for human occupancy or use,’” Lasiewicz wrote in his report. “The placard will remain until properly engineered repairs have been completed and approved.”
Engineering firms Ramaker & Associates and SEH assessed the complex and concluded “the observed displacement and distress of the existing structure is an immediate and ongoing safety concern for occupants anywhere in the interior of the facility, and people and property in the surrounding exterior.”
SEH’s 23-page report on what they found during an inspection on June 11 also was released Wednesday, saying “it appears the movement has likely been ongoing and is not a result of a sudden shift in the ground.” It included pictures of cracking in walls.
“It is our opinion that the observed damage to the building is likely due to vertical subsidence rather than lateral movement. Possible causes of vertical movement include settlement of the soil under the structure from either loose/soft native soil, poorly compacted fill soils that may have existed prior to construction or were placed during construction, decaying debris, or a purely structural failure of the foundation,” the report reads.
Some residents on the north half of the complex are still living in their units, as that half of the building wasn’t showing the same problems the south wing was experiencing, they said. It is unclear how long they will be allowed to stay, based on SEH’s field report.
“The Ramaker report states that ‘this wing is not structurally sound.’ Based on additional field measurements of settlement by SEH included in this memorandum, this life safety statement should be expanded to the entire building, including the wing past the stair/elevator along the creek,” the SEH report reads.
The SEH report questioned how the foundation was laid for the building.
“The structure at 509 North High Street sits on a site with historic use in the wood products manufacturing industry dating back to the late 19 century. A site grading plan dating to the structure’s construction appears to indicate that portions of the footprint of 509 North High Street sit over the footprint of previous structures at the site,” the report states. “It is unclear what foundations existed on the site from the previous structures, and how or if those were fully removed during construction. It is also unclear if any portion of the site was previously filled (reclaimed land), or if debris was buried on the site while it was being used for industrial purposes. If debris did exist on the site at the time of construction, it is unclear if it was removed, and if it was removed, how those excavations were backfilled.”
The report concludes with recommendations on how the building can be repaired.
Residents told the Leader-Telegram they were informed at about 11 a.m. June 25, that they had until 4 p.m. to pack their belongings and find a new place to live. Several residents said they were given $1,500 for moving expenses and would get their deposits back as well. Residents described how some of the floors aren’t even and it appeared the building was sinking. Another said a wall was showing signs of bending.
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