Another St. Ignatius inspection: Downtown Association hires own contractor, inspector

Last month, notices were placed up around the former St. Ignatius Hospital building, deeming the building unsafe and structurally unsound. These notices were posted by the City of Colfax following an inspection of the building in November or December.

Mayor Todd Vanek told the Gazette in December that the city thought the building was unsafe, and when they issued a report, it would go to building owner Anthony Girges.

Irving Trejo, city building inspector, said he was in the building prior to this time, but a report was not issued until recently.

The city report has been sent to Girges, but it has not been seen by Valoree Gregory, Colfax unified executive director, or anyone else from the Downtown Association.

St. Ignatius has been used by the association for two years for haunted hospital tours which have brought new visitors to Colfax and generated revenue and national publicity.

Gregory told the Gazette this week that the Downtown Association recently brought its own contractor and structural engineer to complete an inspection of the building.

“They found that the actual structure of the building is safe,” said Gregory. She added that a report has been sent to the city.

Gregory said she and association members accompanied inspectors Dave and Kevin Schell of Seattle. They indicated the areas of the building that would need to be blocked off in order for tours to continue. They also demonstrated how to block them off in a safe manner.

“We’re waiting to see if we did those fixes if they would let us go in again,” said Gregory.

The Downtown Association currently has a lease with Girges on the building through September.

“At least let us finish up our lease. We’re paying for it,” said Gregory. “If we could finish out our season, it would be good enough for us.”

Gregory said she has a waiting list of people who want to go on tours of the building, and she is hoping to be allowed to have those resume this summer.

“We took the lead. We went and got the contractor and the structural engineer,” said Gregory. “I’m sure Todd and Irving are looking at it.”

Trejo told the Gazette he has received the report from the Downtown Association.

“We did receive something. I haven’t reviewed through it entirely,” he said. “We are going to review that, but at the same time, limit the communication between the city and the building owner.”

Trejo said he is not sure if Mayor Vanek has heard from Girges since the report was sent, but that is still where the city is trying to keep the communication line.

“There are things that need to meet code,” said Trejo. “We are trying to work on that with the owner.”

Gregory said the Downtown Association has received a donation of chain linked fences that are planned to be placed throughout the building in the areas the Schells noted to be unsafe.

“We’re just waiting for the thumbs up from the city to get the volunteers ready to go and do that,” said Gregory.