Blue-Ribbon Panel to Probe L&I Failures Leading to Market Street Collapse
Victim’s parents, who implored the city to launch independent panel, get their wish
An blue-ribbon commission is being formed to investigate Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses & Inspections in the wake of the deadly Market Street building collapse.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced appointments to the independent, 15-person panel on Thursday afternoon.
The panelists include construction and demolition experts, university professors, union members and city officials.
- Emily Bittenbender of Bittenbender Construction
- Ryan Boyer of the Laborers District Council of Philadelphia
- Prof. Robert Brhem of Drexel University
- Lorraine Borwn of The Temple Group
- Glenn Corbett of John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- James Dollard of IBEW 98
- Anne Falludon of the Building Industry Association
- Prof. Scott Knowles of Drexel University
- Steven Lakin of the General Building Contractors Association
- Greg Stewart of Gilbane Building Company
- Peter Vaira of Vaira and Riley
- Francis Vargas of Allied Construction Services
- John Elfrey of City of Philadelphia
- David Perri of City of Philadelphia
- Barry Scott of City of Philadelphia
The panel’s formation comes after City Treasurer Nancy Winkler and her husband Jay Bryan implored the city to bring together demolition and engineering experts to uncover the failures that led to the Jun. 5 collapse at 22nd and Market.
In that collapse, a four story wall from a building under demolition toppled down onto the Salvation Army Thrift Store next door. Anne Bryan, Winkler and Byran’s daughter, along with five others were killed. Thirteen people were also hurt.
“We just believe that this should have never had happened,” Winkler said in Sept. “Our main objective is to ensure that no other parents have to go through what we’re going through.”
The blue-ribbon panel will be the seventh investigation into the collapse. Other inquiries include a grand jury and OSHA investigation.
In a statement through their attorney Anne Bryan’s family said while there no way to reverse what happened, they are encouraged by the mayor’s decision to work and prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
” The Commission will have our complete support as it conducts what we trust will be a completely independent, comprehensive investigation, and recommends changes intended to make L&I a national model of best practices,” the statement read.