City moves forward in securing Gadsden Street structure
January 9, 2017
In order to ensure the safety of residents near the stressed structure at 4 Gadsden Street, the City of Charleston has ordered a mandatory evacuation of two homes in the immediate vicinity, and has advised a number of additional residents near the affected area to consider evacuation as well.
Yesterday, contactors working on the building contacted the city with concerns about its structural integrity. Both the City of Charleston Chief Building Official and a third-party inspector assessed the building, deemed it structurally unsound and recommended demolition.
“We hate to lose any historic structure, especially one with as much significance as this residence on Gadsden Street,” said City of Charleston director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability Jacob Lindsey. “With that in mind, we hired a third-party structural engineer who is renowned for his commitment to historic preservation. Unfortunately, it was determined that there is no safe way to save the building.”
The area and streets around the building were closed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public.
City building inspectors stand ready to approve demolition plans as soon as the contractor presents them.
Mayor John Tecklenburg said, “We don’t like to inconvenience anyone, but public safety is the first job of government, and is at the forefront of every decision we make. In this case, the inconvenience is necessary to keep our citizens out of harm’s way while we secure the area and make it safe going forward.”
