Four businesses in a small retail complex on Jeffco Boulevard in Arnold re-opened Thursday (Aug. 6), eight days after a portion of a retaining wall behind the businesses fell, City Administrator Bryan Richison said.
The portion of the wall that fell on July 29 is behind the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop, 1266 Jeffco Blvd.; Cold Stone Creamery, 1270 Jeffco Blvd.; Smoothie King, 1272 Jeffco Blvd.; and a Verizon retail store, 1276, Jeffco Blvd. The complex is between McClain Drive and Ridgecrest Drive, which is near the Arnold Post Office and across the street from the Arnold Walmart Supercenter.
Richison said the city informed the businesses Wednesday (Aug. 5) that reports from two engineers working for the property owner deemed it safe for the building to reopen. However, a parking lot behind the retail complex and the Jimmy John’s drive-thru remain closed because of safety concerns, Richison said today (Aug. 7).
Robert Ryffel, who owns Cold Stone Creamery with his wife, Krista, said the closure was “tough,” especially in light of the problems the COVID-19 pandemic has caused businesses
“I think the real estate team that manages the property (Raven Development), the landlord and the city of Arnold got on it (inspecting the wall) as quick as they could. There are just certain things you cannot rush,” Ryffel said. “They got us back up and running, and I can’t complain. I’m just glad we are back open again. The public has been great. The first day back, people were back in.”
Richison said the city also was happy the businesses were able to re-open quickly.
“We don’t like to close businesses down, unless it is absolutely necessary,” he said. “We are happy they are able to re-open. So far, I think the process has moved along on a reasonable time frame. The property owner, owner’s management company and all the construction firms and engineers involved have been cooperative. We hope that continues as we all work together through this process to find a solution.”
Richison said the city is waiting to review reports, which will be signed and sealed by a certified structural engineer, to determine what caused the collapse and to find a solution to prevent future problems with the wall.
“We all have to agree on what happened before they can think about how to fix it,” Richison said. “We have been very clear on that. We don’t want to hear anything about how they want to repair it, until they address what happened.”
When a portion of the 50-foot retaining wall fell, it not only forced the businesses to close but also residents had to evacuate two villa-style buildings in the 1200 block on Windcrest Circle – a neighborhood below where the wall collapsed, the Rock Community Fire Protection District reported.
However, those residents were told July 31 they could return to their homes.
No one was injured in the collapse, which the Arnold Police Department reported to the fire district, Rock Fire spokesman Ron Harder said.
Arnold Community Development Director David Bookless said the city’s building commissioner directed the property owner to have a certified structural engineer assess the situation and propose remedies. Officials from Spire and Public Water Supply District No. 1 also inspected the area, Rock Fire reported.
The retaining wall was built in 2014 and problems with it surfaced the next year.
“By April 2015, there was significant cracking in the wall,” Richison said.
Richison said the developer’s engineer told the city at the time the cracks were cosmetic, and the city had the developer bring in an outside engineer to inspect the wall.
“The second firm felt the same way,” Richison said. “There was a recommendation that any of the cracks that were a half inch or greater be filled with a polymer-type seal, and that was done. After that, it was fine.
“I don’t know at this point whether the cracking contributed to what happened or if it was a different cause. That is what we are waiting on the engineers (to determine).”
