According to Ana Contreras, code enforcement officer for the city of Tracy, the work to temporarily shore up the Tenth Street wall at the former Helm’s Ale House site was completed and passed city inspection on June 27.
The building was deemed unsafe by code enforcement on Oct. 31, 2011, by inspectors who allegedly found that six of the roofing trusses had severe damaged. A week after that inspection, city officials erected a fence around the building saying it presented a danger to the public.
Property owner Denise Hembree was given until July 5 to complete the wall work or risk the city going forward with its plans to legally takeover the property.
Melo Construction recently completed the structural work, and then structural engineer Andre Mozaffari, who was hired by property owner Denise Hembree to certify the job, informed city officials that everything was up to code.
“(Mozaffari) also stipulated a 60-day time period to continue to keep the momentum on getting the rest of the repairs completed,” Contreras said. “On July 2 we received a letter from Hembree’s attorney acknowledging certain engineering conditions will be met.”
Mozaffari told city officials that he assured the wall work would remain stable for 60 days and Hembree had agreed to have the remaining structural work completed within that time, Contreras said.
The city has since issued a demolition permit to Melo Construction for the removal of the exterior overhang, interior ceilings and repair of the building’s roofing system.
Contreras said that, according to Hembree, engineering work should be completed and submitted for a plan check review within the 60 day time frame.
“She’s working faster than required because the building has been deemed safe,” Contreras said, referring to Hembree.
Hembree was unavailable for comment on Tuesday night.



HaHaHa. Good one!
Too bad the overhang is being removed. I can understand how it adds load to the walls but it sure will be a plain, boring building when it is removed.