BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Consultants say the Town of Black Mountain’s public safety building has significant structural concerns and may not be safe for continued occupancy, according to a report presented to the town council Monday night.
The building, which houses the police and fire departments, was originally constructed in the mid-1950s as a grocery store. Town officials have long been aware of potential issues, but a recent assessment suggests the problems could be more serious than previously believed.
Consultants from McGill Associates and Moseley Architects told the council that visible signs of structural distress — including bowing brick walls, cracks in the floor and ongoing basement flooding — point to possible soil and foundation problems beneath the building.
“We do know there’s something happening to the building,” architect Kevin McDade, of Moseley Architects, told council members. “We don’t necessarily know what. We would need further active investigations.”
Structural concerns identified
McDade said he and three engineers inspected the facility’s structural systems, mechanical and plumbing systems, roof and other components. While the full cause of the damage is not yet known, he said the issues appear to be most pronounced on the fire station side of the building, where the concrete floor sits directly on soil.
Cracks in the floor and signs of settling suggest the soil beneath the structure may have weakened or washed away over time. Engineers also found water entering a storm pipe beneath the building, which could contribute to soil instability.
“If there’s water there, the soil can soften and the building can begin to settle,” McDade said.
The basement on the police department side of the building has also experienced flooding through a retaining wall, another indicator of possible foundation problems.
Testing recommended
McDade recommended hiring a geotechnical engineering firm to conduct core samples and soil borings inside and outside the building to determine what is happening beneath the foundation.
The testing would involve drilling small holes in areas where cracking has occurred and collecting soil samples from depths of up to 20 feet.
The estimated cost for the investigation is between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on access and drilling requirements.
Town leaders indicated they plan to move forward quickly with the testing.
Safety concerns raised
When asked directly whether the building was safe to occupy, the consulting architect expressed concern.
“My professional opinion is no,” McDade told the council. “Something is actively happening to that building.”
While he said it is impossible to predict if or when a structural failure might occur, he warned that severe weather, strong winds or even a minor earthquake could place additional stress on the structure.
Consultants recommended the town consider relocating police and fire personnel to temporary facilities until the full scope of structural issues is understood.
“If you ask me my professional opinion, it’s not safe,” McDade said. “I would say you need to find solutions, temporary housing until we can get it fixed.”
High-priority condition rating
The facility assessment calculated a Facility Condition Index (FCI) of 0.77, which places the building in a “high-priority” condition category, which starts at 0.30. The index compares the estimated cost of repairs to the building’s replacement value.
The report estimates $2.2 million in deferred maintenance for the facility, with roughly $1.85 million in critical repairs needed within the next year.
By comparison, consultants estimated demolishing the building and constructing a similar 12,000-square-foot facility could cost about $6.6 million in construction, or roughly $8 million for a full project.
Next steps
Town officials plan to obtain a proposal from a geotechnical firm and present it to council at an upcoming meeting.
Council members also discussed the possibility of temporary relocation options for public safety staff while the structural investigation continues.
Officials emphasized the need to move quickly.
“We really need to put effort, attention and probably money into this sooner rather than later,” one council member said.