31 Buildings In Renton In Danger Of Collapse In Earthquake: State

RENTON, WA - State officials have completed a new map of about 4,500 buildings across the state that are at risk of collapse in a strong earthquake. Many are unreinforced-masonry (URM) buildings across the state, which tend to be older structures that can "pancake" in an earthquake.

The database was compiled by the state Department of Commerce and Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and completed in October. The report and database were presented to state lawmakers last week.

"URM buildings contribute to the unique, distinct character of the state’s cities and towns. While historic and frequently majestic, URM buildings are prone to partial or complete collapse in the event of an earthquake," commerce department director Brian Bonlender wrote in a letter to the state Legislature last fall. "Washington’s URM buildings suffered extensive damage during earthquakes in 1945, 1969 and 2001. Similar earthquakes around the world have shown just how vulnerable URM building construction can be if left unmitigated."

The database includes buildings across the state built before the 1960s. Buildings in the database include apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, fire stations, and commercial structures. In a strong earthquake, the exterior walls of a URM buildings can sway, allowing the floors to separate and fall to the ground. The buildings can be retrofitted to withstand earthquakes.

Even in weaker earthquakes, parapets on top of URM buildings can fall and cause damage on the streets below. In the 2001 magnitude 6.8 Nisqually quake, pieces of old brick buildings in Pioneer Square in Seattle fell, crushing cars and other objects, but luckily missing people.

Here are the buildings identified that are in Renton. The state does not have complete information for all buildings, so some are missing an address or year of construction, for example. Some buildings made of concrete blocks are designated as "CMU." Those buildings are not URM, but are still at risk of collapse.

Built Year: 1953
Address: 460 OLYMPIA AVE NE, RENTON, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Industrial

Name: Lundgren Property
Built Year: 1951
Address: 117 Park Ave N, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Daniel Upper Farm
Address: 9119 South 192nd Street, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Industrial

Built Year: 1956
Address: 601 MONSTER RD SW, RENTON, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Industrial

Built Year: 1950
Address: 1400 Monster Rd SW, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial, Industrial

Built Year: 1941
Address: 403 S 2nd St, Renton, WA, 98057, USA
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Public Assembly

Name: John Julian and Son Electric Motors
Built Year: 1951
Address: 340 Sunset Blvd N, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial, Industrial

Name: Cugini Property
Built Year: 1954
Address: 207 A Sunset Blvd NE, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Gilmore Gasoline
Built Year: 1936
Address: 1300 Bronson Way N, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick, CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Sweet Center
Built Year: 1920
Address: 1119 Bronson Way, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Pedersen Brothers General Auto Repairs
Built Year: 1948
Address: 1100 Bronson Way N, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Kirkman Property
Built Year: 1951
Address: 1020 N 1st St, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick, CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Rees Property
Built Year: 1925
Address: 912 S 2nd, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Associated Gasoline
Built Year: 1946
Address: 1010 2nd Ave S, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Renton Doctor's Clinic
Built Year: 1950
Address: 1000 2nd Ave S, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Emergency

Name: Union 76 Garage and Pacific Auto Supply
Built Year: 1925
Address: 123 Mill Ave S, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Chevron Gasoline
Built Year: 1941
Address: 207 Main Ave S, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Evans Property
Built Year: 1946
Address: 226 Main Ave S, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): CMU, Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Dobson Building
Built Year: 1929
Address: 221 Main Ave S, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Built Year: 1927
Address: 227 Main Ave S, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Puget Sound Power and Light
Built Year: 1908
Address: 233-234 Main Ave S, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Evans Building
Built Year: 1927
Address: 918-928 S 3rd St, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Puget Sound Power and Light Company Transformer Station
Built Year: 1900
Address: 1025 S Third St, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Masonry - Brick
Building Use(s): Government

Name: Renton Substation, Snoqualmie Falls Power Company
Address: 1017 South 3rd Street, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Industrial

Name: Labbe Appliance Company
Built Year: 1938
Address: 911, 913 1/2, 915, 917, & 919 S 3rd St, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Labbe Appliance Company
Built Year: 1928
Address: 911, 913 1/2, 915, 917, & 919 S 3rd St, Renton, WA 98055
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Commercial

Built Year: 1946
Address: 330 Main Ave S, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Industrial

Built Year: 1907
Address: 903 Fourth S, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Industrial

Name: J.C. Penny Co. Store
Built Year: 1955
Address: 700 S 3RD ST, RENTON, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Commercial

Name: Nike Ajax Site - Lake Youngs
Built Year: 1955
Address: 14631 SE 192nd St, Renton, WA
Construction Material(s): Unknown
Building Use(s): Government, Emergency

Name: Nike S-33 Renton Administration Area
Built Year: 1956
Address: 14631 SE 192nd St, Renton, WA 98058
Construction Material(s): CMU
Building Use(s): Government, Emergency

You can see the whole database here.