WALLS

WALLS. Visitors to Dubuque are quick to recognize the many walls on the hills surrounding the downtown area. Occasionally they have collapsed raising the question of responsibility.

At this time (1896/1897) the city had built or was building a number of high, strong stone walls to hold the bluffs here and there. (1) In May 1927 following a heavy rain, the city manager informed the council that the Villa Street retaining wall would need to be rebuilt while council members announced their intention of checking the wall at the rear of the Ham property on Bluff. (2)

In 1960 a large section of a 60-foot high wall at the rear of 1441-1449 Bluff collapsed. Acting City Manager Leo FROMMELT stated that the responsibility lay with the property owners. City building and zoning ordinances called for no inspection of the walls which were fifty to one hundred years old. Only if the walls touch a public street of other city land would the city administration be responsible for the inspection or be liable in case of injury through a collapse of a wall, according to Building Commissioner Don Bandy. (3)

In April, 2008 a rock wall collapsed along Highland Place. City officials said a retaining wall collapse would cost $250,000 in clean-up and construction. In April 2013 a nearly two-story rock wall collapsed along 18th and Central forcing a couple to move from their home which was threatened. (4)

In December 2009 dozens of limestone bricks - some about the size of a refrigerator, collapsed onto a Grove Terrace home owned by Craig Kowalski. Ribbons of mangled fence, gravel and portions of pavement poured down onto the southwest corner of the home exposing a gas line in the process.

No one was injured when the limestone retaining wall gave way, and the cause of the collapse remained unclear to city officials. Aquila crews spent the morning working to halt the flow of natural gas to Kowalski's home by pinching shut a pipe on Bluff and 11th streets - across the street from the CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY. By 10:48 a.m., fire officials and Aquila crew members gave Kowalski the "all clear" to approach his house. (5)

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Source:

1. Oldt, Franklin T., History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1880. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-22-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

2. "Sewers Too Small, Council Informed," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, May 10, 1927, p. 9

3. "Rock Retaining Walls Not Under Jurisdiction of City," Telegraph Herald, April 15, 1960, p. 3

4. Habegger, Becca. "Dubuque Couple Fighting City Over Failed Retaining Wall," Online: http://www.ktiv.com/story/22188430/2013/05/07/dubuque-couple-fighting-city-over-failed-retaining-wall

5. "Retaining Wall Collapse Damaged Dubuque Home. Online: http://telegraph-herald.vlex.com/vid/tri-retaining-wall-collapse-damages-72631415