'Extensive repairs' and a crumbling parking garage: Peoria building faces code violations

Extensive repairs to both the fire system and an eroding parking garage are still needed at Peoria's shuddered Riverview Plaza Building as the prominent downtown high rise approaches its fifth month of being shut down.

Documents obtained by the Journal Star via a Freedom of Information Act request show, in detail, the extent of repairs needed to a building that has drawn significant concern from city officials over safety.

The building's owner will face a fire code violation hearing on Aug. 8 and another hearing in housing court on Aug. 2. Those hearing will determine any fines levied against the owner, MJ Illinois LLC.

More: 'Absolute madness': Frustration mounts over shuttered Downtown Peoria high rise building

Crumbling and corroding parking garage needs "extensive repairs"

The building's attached parking garage is rife with crumbling infrastructure that will likely require "extensive repairs" and possibly "total reconstructions of portions of the structure," according to an inspection conducted by the Farnsworth Group in March.

Farnsworth Group noted the parking garage had "elements exhibiting cracking, concrete loss of cover and exposed reinforcement. These areas of deterioration occur in the columns, beams, joists and deck."

The observed deteriorations, such as cracking and falling concrete throughout the structure, was noted to be common among parking garages, Farnsworth Group noted.

However, some of the exposed reinforcement throughout the garage showed signs of corrosion and a loss of concrete cover throughout the garage "poses concerns," the report said.

Corrosion to the reinforcements in the structure "will ultimately lead to reduced capacity of the framing," the report said, adding: "we judge that reduced capacity is already occurring in some locations described within this report as representative of conditions observed throughout the structure."

Falling concrete throughout the deck poses not only a safety hazard to people and vehicles within the deck but also to anyone walking on the sidewalks below the deck on Northeast Madison Avenue, Hamilton Boulevard and Northeast Jefferson Street, according to the report.

Farnsworth Group recommended in March that the parking garage be barricaded from public access until repairs are made and a licensed Illinois structural engineer has conducted a "thorough investigation" and given approval for the parking garage to be reopened.

An investigation by a licensed structural engineer of the columns supporting the 11-story office building above the parking garage was also recommended in the Farnsworth Group report.

A "detailed survey of the deterioration" by the building's owner should have taken place within two months of the Farnsworth Group inspection, the report said, and monthly updates should be provided to the city of Peoria on the condition of the garage and any repairs or plans for repairs.

As of July 15, the parking garage remains barricaded.

Riverview Plaza issued tickets for fire code violations

A list of 14 different repairs to the building's fire system, costing an estimated $135,527, is needed at the Riverview Plaza Building, according to an estimate by PIPCO Contractors from February.

Riverview Plaza, also known commonly as the Chase Bank Building, was shut down by the city of Peoria in February after both the fire suppression systems and fire alarm systems in the building were found to be not working. The Chase Bank on the first floor is the only tenant that remains open.

In an interview with the Peoria Journal Star in April, building owner Junghoon Kim vowed to complete the repairs. Since then, "zero" has been done to the building, according to Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger.

In June, the Peoria Fire Department issued 17 tickets to Kim and the Riverview Plaza Building for fire code violations.

The tickets, which were reviewed by the Journal Star, include an array of fire code violations, including failure to maintain fire alarms, fire sprinklers, pumps and piping throughout the building.

Fines for the tickets will be determined in court.

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 'Extensive repairs' and a crumbling parking garage: Peoria building faces code violations