Major downtown Peoria building shut down after water leak, safety issues
All occupants and businesses in the 20-story Riverview Plaza, commonly known as the Chase Bank Building, in downtown Peoria were told to stay out of the building Friday.
A water leak in the building impacted the properties' fire sprinkler system, according to Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger. Occupants of 111 and 125 NE Jefferson Street cannot be in the building if both the fire sprinkler system and fire alarm systems are not functioning.
Sollberger said the leak was likely caused by the variance between cold and warm temperatures Peoria has seen lately and likely caused water pipes in the building to spring leaks.
This type of leak is common this time of year, Sollberger said.
"It's not unique to our community. This happens all around the country when you have freezing, thawing and ruptured pipes, and that's what we're dealing with today," Sollberger said.
Water could still be seen leaking from the building Friday morning as signs on the building informed occupants to stay out.
The Peoria Fire Department was first notified of the leak around 4 p.m. Thursday.
As of Friday, the extent of water damage inside the building was not known, but Sollberger said the water break had been isolated and they were now working to help management with maintenance and repairs.
The building's management had been made aware in the past by the Peoria Fire Department and Community Development Department that the fire alarm system in the building was not functioning properly.
Yet, Sollberger said it was unclear at this time whether the problem had ever been addressed. He also could not say for sure how long the alarm system has been down. He said the fire department was gathering the necessary paperwork today to answer that question.
"You have multiple businesses, multiple offices, in-flow and out-flow of people on a daily basis — it's our responsibility as a city, primarily this fire department working with community development, to ensure that these fire suppression systems are functioning properly," Sollberger said. "If they're not, you're really putting the public in harm's way."
The building is home to over 20 businesses including various law offices, the Black Chamber of Commerce, Public Building Commission, a Subway restaurant, a church and, of course, Chase Bank.
Community Development Director Joe Dulin said the city is using Friday to evaluate what is wrong with the building's fire suppression and alarm system.
"As the chief mentioned, they've had some issues with the alarm system they've been working through, and so we're very hopeful we'll see them continue to work through these issues and get the tenants back in the building sooner than later," Dulin said.
Dulin added the building was not at a point where it needed to be shut down until Thursday.
The towering structure was completed in 1967, standing at 243 feet tall. It is Peoria's third tallest building.
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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Chase Bank Building closed following leak and safety issues
