Do LA High-Rises Need Structural Inspections? Councilman Says Yes

LOS ANGELES,CA — Following the collapse of a South Florida condominium that killed 98 people last month, Los Angeles Councilman Paul Koretz Friday introduced a motion to have the Department of Building and Safety report on the city's existing inspection protocols for high-rise buildings, best practices for the inspections and steps to ensure that L.A. avoids a similar tragedy.

"The devastation endured by the families and friends who lost loved ones last month in Miami is not something we should ever see here in Los Angeles," Koretz said. "While Miami officials are still investigating the cause of the collapse of the Surfside condos, we here in Los Angeles need to look at our own high-rises to determine if there are any structural, geological or environmental factors that could compromise their safety."

The motion, if approved by the City Council, would also instruct the department to create a map with the locations of all Los Angeles high-rise buildings and the dates of their most recent structural inspections.

The map would particularly focus on Century City, downtown and the Wilshire corridor.

The motion will be reviewed by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee before being considered by the full City Council.

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--City News Service