LA County Withholds Seismic Safety Reports for Newly Purchased Skyscraper

LA County's Skyscraper Purchase

• 🏢 LA County purchased the Gas Company Tower, one of Downtown LA's tallest buildings, for $200 million to serve as a new headquarters.
• ⚠️ Structural engineers warn the steel-frame building could suffer severe damage in a major earthquake without seismic upgrades.

Seismic Report Controversy

• 📉 The county is refusing to release the preliminary seismic study findings, citing exemptions under the California Public Records Act.
• ❓ This lack of transparency leaves the public, including building occupants and those in neighboring structures, in the dark about potential risks.
• 🧐 The LA Times was denied access to the seismic report on September 5th.

Cost of Retrofitting and Public Concerns

• 💰 An estimated $230 million is needed to retrofit the building, a cost that has led some elected officials to express reservations.
• 🗣️ Supervisor Hilda Solis cited financial constraints but expressed confidence in the building's current safety.
• 🗓️ The county claims they are still in the process of selecting contractors for the retrofit.

Historical Context and Future Use

• ⚠️ There are concerns the Gas Company Tower may have suffered undiscovered damage during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
• 👥 The county expects to house approximately 300 staff members in the building.