Columbia motel balcony last repaired in 1996
The balcony at a now-closed Columbia motel on I-70 Drive Southwest was last repaired in 1996, according to city inspection records.
The records, obtained through a request by ABC 17 News, show that a contractor completed the repairs more than 20 years ago at the building, which was a Motel 6 at the time.
The record does not specify if the balcony in question was the same one that broke on Monday, causing a mandatory evacuation of the motel’s 45 residents. The motel now does business as the Royal Inn.
The motel was built in 1974, and was then the Regal 8 Inn. Inspectors came to review some work done a few times since its construction, including once in 1994 for plumbing and again in 1996 to follow up on the balcony repairs.
While details are not provided, inspectors followed up on two “commercial alterations” in 1998. Most recently, inspectors approved the Royal Inn’s request to do some roofing work in 2017.
No city ordinances require routine inspections of walkways like the one that partially collapsed. City officials told ABC 17 News that it most often inspects these structures if the city receives complaints. An anonymous tipster alerted the city to the conditions of the walkway at the Royal Inn on Monday.
The future of the deteriorating walkway are still unclear. Assistant fire chief Brad Fraizer said the city is working closely with the business owners, Wahegu, LLC, on the next steps. As of Tuesday, six people were still packing up their belongings to leave the motel.
