City of Berkeley orders demolition of fire-damaged University Avenue building
The fire-damaged building at 2067 University Ave. was determined unsafe by the city of Berkeley’s Building and Safety Division on Nov. 24 and is scheduled for demolition, a process that should be completed by Dec. 31, according to city spokesperson Matthai Chakko.
Chakko said the structure, which caught fire Nov. 21 and burned for several days, does not present an “imminent collapse hazard.” The wood-frame damage, however, may endanger adjacent properties.
As such, Chakko said the property owner was issued a Notice of Unsafe Building and Order to Correct and has taken steps to obtain the permit necessary for demolition.
The interior of the building, including the elevator shaft, stairwells and central corridors, suffered the most concentrated fire damage, according to Chakko.
He added that the roof penthouse and stories three to seven have a wood-frame superstructure with exterior walls made of fire-retardant lumber. Though charred, the exterior walls “retained a portion of their structural capacities.”
The two-story concrete podium structure, which appears to be structurally sound, will undergo more detailed examinations.
Contact Anishi Patel at anishipatel@dailycal.org and follow her on Twitter at @anishipatel.