Pasadena : City Mum on Seismic Review

Pasadena officials have declined to publicly disclose or comment on a preliminary report commissioned by the city that reviews the Huntington Sheraton seismic study, which said that the 79-year-old landmark hotel’s main building could not withstand a major earthquake and prompted hotel officials to close the building last month.

John Kariotis, an internationally known seismic engineer based in South Pasadena, was hired by the city to review the Huntington seismic study in an effort to reopen the main building. Kariotis and city officials initially said that the hotel’s closure may have been premature. Now, however, they have declined comment on Kariotis’ preliminary report, which was presented to the Board of City Directors and the hotel’s managers last week. Mayor Bill Bogaard said it was “inappropriate” to discuss Kariotis’ preliminary findings until hotel management decides to comment on it.