Board affirms unsafe‑building order for underground vault at 21 S. Fifth; owner given deadline to submit plan

The Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety on Wednesday affirmed a building commissioner’s finding that the reinforced‑concrete vault beneath 21 South Fifth Street is unsafe and must be remediated.

City Building Inspector Alex Castanada summarized an inspection that identified fractured beams, delaminated ceiling slabs, exposed reinforcement and fallen concrete that staff said has undermined structural capacity. Castanada said temporary shoring and jack posts are in place but described the condition as requiring permanent repair or filling. He stated the vault is approximately 189 feet long by about 28 feet wide and roughly 12 feet high in parts and that the damaged area lies entirely on private property.

Staff recommended the board affirm the unsafe‑structure order, require the owner or land‑contract purchaser to submit contractor proposals within 30 days, and complete vault closure within 120 days while maintaining interim shoring. Grant (Pinch LLC), a one‑third owner present at the hearing, said the owners have obtained an engineering report from Clear Creek, are soliciting contractor quotes, and have an interested purchaser under a letter‑of‑intent process. Grant told the board he expects remediation will be a “considerable investment” paid from private funds, and that owners hope to complete work by year‑end if feasible.

The board affirmed the commissioner’s order, modified the administrative schedule to authorize staff oversight and monitoring, and directed that the matter be returned to the board for a compliance hearing if sufficient progress is not demonstrated. Board members noted the city cannot provide funding for private repairs in this case and emphasized the importance of timely progress because the vault is beneath an occupied building and adjacent to public areas.

The board’s action preserves enforcement authority and sets a clear timeline for remediation filings; staff will report back if the owners do not meet milestone deadlines.