Justin Schmitz
Phone: 303.662.8112
Brick Walls
The City partnered with Park Meadows Metropolitan District and consultant Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc. to conduct a study of the condition of the neighborhood brick walls owned by the City. The final study was presented to City Council on Nov. 16 and can be viewed here.
If the brick wall on your property has begun to deteriorate, review the FAQs below. If you have additional questions, contact Public Works at 303-662-8112 or e-mail [email protected].
Background Information
In 2001, the City initiated a program to install brick walls to replace deteriorating wood fences in parts of the City. The program included the City paying for the construction of the walls and owning and maintaining them once installed. As part of this construction, an easement was created with the City and signed by each respective property owner for property adjacent to the brick walls. Between 2011 and 2013, the City initiated litigation and received a monetary settlement from the engineer, contractor, and manufacturer of the wall as a result of brick spalling occurring at several locations.
Over the last several years, the City has continued to evaluate maintenance needs on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing any structural repairs versus just aesthetic repairs. Now, with the walls being up to 20 years old, the condition of the brick walls needs to be thoroughly assessed before the City can determine next steps. The City partnered with Park Meadows Metropolitan District (PMMD) and their consultant Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc. (ANA) to conduct a study of the condition of the brick walls. This study was conducted from May to July 2021 the results were presented to City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
There are several homeowner associations (HOAs) that have their own brick walls that are not owned or funded by the City, and it is up to the HOAs to address the conditions of such brick walls.
No. Only the brick walls that were on City property at the time that this program started were included. If your property’s brick wall was not among the City’s program, it is because it may be owned by your HOA. Please contact your HOA directly to address any concerns regarding your brick wall.
Please contact the City’s Public Works Department at (303) 662-8112 and provide your home address. Our staff will verify whether or not your brick wall is a part of this program.
The City is repairing brick walls on a case by case basis. Any resident whose wall was included in the City program and has concerns about its deterioration should contact Public Works at 303-662-8112. Public Works staff will go out to the property to assess current wall conditions and determine if it is a structural issue in order to recommend repairs as needed.
The City understands that as more walls deteriorate, it may be more cost-effective to replace all rather than repair each as needed. However, no plans have been set yet so the City will continue to replace on a case by case basis.
Full replacement of the brick walls in the City’s program would range from $7.7M to $10.3M, which would include testing and an owner’s representative.
As per City Council policy, the City has started to set aside funds every year in its reserves to prepare for the need to replace all brick walls in the future. However, approval of these annual savings is at the discretion of City Council.
In 2013, the brick walls throughout the City were evaluated by a structural engineering firm, and their assessment provided that the walls were structurally intact. However, there were common types of distress noted. Some of the aesthetic issues noted were brick spalling, efflorescence, and sagging bottom panels. We are seeing that the rebar that runs on the bottom portion of the fences, between the bottom rows, is creating a weak point resulting in loose bricks that often fall off. See sample images below or click here for reference.
At this point, the City is only fixing brick walls determined to have structural issues.