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New Quake Law Targets Old Buildings

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The El Segundo City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to an ordinance designed to reduce deaths or injuries in earthquakes by requiring that unreinforced masonry buildings be made safe or demolished.

The measure takes effect in 30 days. It applies to between 25 and 30 structures--many in the Richmond Street Old Town area--built before modern earthquake safety standards were developed in 1934.

Under the state-mandated ordinance, the owners of these buildings will be ordered by the city to have structural analyses done. They will be given 270 days either to demonstrate that the buildings meet safety requirements or to develop plans to alter the buildings or demolish them. Another option will give the owners 120 days to develop plans to install wall anchors.

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Once such plans are made, the owners will have up to seven years to do the work, depending on how many people occupy a building and the severity of the hazard.

Concerned that the expense of reinforcing historic buildings could cause many of them to be demolished, the council asked the city staff to determine what kinds of financial assistance are available to owners. “If we don’t do something, we’ll see the wrecking ball,” Councilman Alan West said.

However, Hyrum B. Fedje, head of the city Building and Safety Department, sought to downplay the prospects of demolition. He said owners have a lot of time to comply with the ordinance and that the city is developing the idea of a historic district that would offer financial incentives for preservation.

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