Reproduced from The
Post and Courier, Charleston, SC (used with permission)
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Church sues over steeple cracks
By: ARLIE PORTER Of The Post and Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 12/28/01
Page: A1
AH:Garage construction blamed for damage to historic structure
The steeple of one of the most historic churches in Charleston has cracked, a direct result of vibrations from construction of a nearby parking garage, the church claims in a lawsuit.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, built in 1838, last month filed suit against Charleston County and contractors hired to build the county parking garage at Church and Cumberland streets.
The church claims that vibrations created during foundation work on the garage caused severe cracks in the brick walls of the steeple.
The church did not elaborate on the severity of the damage in the lawsuit. But the church’s rector said it was substantial.
“We are not in fear of any imminent collapse or impending, immediate problems. But there were significant structural cracks, such that if a hurricane blew through, it could have an impact,” said the Rev. Haden McCormick.
The steeple will have to be bolstered with steel beams, costing more than $100,000, McCormick said.
“It’s not a $10,000 fender bender. It’s significant,” he said.
Charleston County and contractors deny responsibility for any damage. Construction work was carefully monitored to avoid damage to surrounding historic properties, they said.
“There is no indication that anything we did would result_in enough vibration to crackthing, so we only have to assume the church is mistaken about their problem,” said Trent Kernodle, attorney for subcontractor Case Atlantic Co.
A nearby homeowner, Ted A Phillips Jr., has also sued, saying vibrations caused cracks and extensive damage to the interior and exterior walls of his home at 141 Church St.
A study is underway on whether the Old Powder Magazine has been damaged, according to a spokesman for the Historic Charleston Foundation, which operates the historic building.
The Powder Magazine, directly across Cumberland Street from the new garage, was built in 1712 and is the only building in the Carolinas that dates to the era of Lord Proprietors, the original investors in the fledgling Carolina settlement.
The steeple of St. Philip’s, one of the most distinctive and cherished landmarks of downtown Charleston, was last restored after damage from Hurricane Hugo at a cost of $4 million.
Construction on the garage, which will serve the new Judicial Center several blocks away, began in 1999. The county purchased the land from St. Philip’s in exchange for nearby property.
Almost immediately after construction began, church services were interrupted due to vibrations from the work. At the time, church officials asked that work be stopped, and church and county officials surveyed the church for damage.
“The indication I got is that we did not generate anything that would create cracks in the building,” recalled Guy Blanton, capital projects director for the county.
Work continued on the garage.
In its lawsuit, the church claims that the county and contractors failed to determine the effect of vibrations on surrounding properties, did not adequately monitor vibrations and chose a construction method that would cause violent vibrations and severely shake nearby structures.
Blanton said Thursday that the county was sensitive to vibrations from construction and the proximity of the historic structures. Rather than drive pilings directly, the most common form of creating a foundation, the county augured holes and filled them with concrete, Blanton said.
The contractor has advised the county that the county is not liable for any damage, Blanton also said.
Kernodle said the method of construction was the least obtrusive to surrounding historic structures. Vibrations were minimal and construction work monitored by an outside, independent firm, he said.
Kernodle and Blanton also said that cracks are common on old buildings, and cracks in St. Philip’s steeple - if there are cracks - could have occurred any time.
The garage opened this summer, under budget, Blanton said.
Blanton said that some nearby property owners were annoyed with the construction, but only the church and Ted Phillips claimed damage.
McCormick said the cracks in the steeple were discovered this year. Metal rods, similar to earthquake bars, are needed to support the steeple, he said.
“It’s not something that can be plastered over and forgotten about,” he said.
Contractor Metric Constructors Inc., doing business as J.A. Jones of the Carolinas, is also named in the church’s lawsuit.
Arlie Porter covers Charleston County. Contact him at 937-5548.
Reproduced from The
Post and Courier, Charleston, SC (used with permission)
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