Denise and Bobby Duncan are opening their residence located at 102 S. National Ave., to the public this evening at 6 p.m. to answer questions and concerns about their recent closure of the Beaux Art Center.
“We are hoping to have documents ready….there has been a lot of misinformation,” Denise Duncan said.
The event is “especially for people in the historic district,” Duncan said. “And people that rent historic buildings.”
Both she and husband, Bobby will be there, she said.
The Duncan’s have had several discussions about the building with city officials that have been unsatisfactory, she said.
Denise Duncan contends that because their residence is a historic building, a code footprint is not needed. Additionally, they contend that the code footprint provided to the city is incorrect, she said.
“The code footprint regulation, K.A.R. 22-1-7, defines minimum features… for an objective evaluation by uniform application of state law using minimum resources. It also makes the code footprint available to assist local fire and building officials (to) view new construction and changes in use,” according to http://firemarshal.ks.gov/division/prevention/plans-review-code-footprint.
“The State Fire Marshall verified that it (their building) is on the state historic register,” she said. “Since it is on the historic register they are giving the city power to make waivers, exceptions, and variances on such matters.”
The City of Fort Scott hired Zingre and Associates P.A. to make the code footprint.
“Zingre’s code footprint is full of errors,” Duncan said.
Among Zingre’s biggest concerns is lack of proper egress width for stairways and doors based on the calculated occupant load of the building and how this load would spread out among the building’s two exits, according to his letter to the city, which was provided by Duncan.
Egress is an exit, according to the dictionary.
The Duncan’s will explain these contentions and others this evening at the meeting they are hosting.
Denise Duncan shows how the Zingre calculation was incorrect in the measurement of the front door to the Beaux Arts Centre. Zingre did not measure the door, merely assumed it was the standard 32 inches, she said. This measurement error cuts the number of people allowed at one time in the building, which drastically affects their business, she said.The measurement of the front door is 42 inches, which would allow more people to be in the building at the same time. Duncan contends Zingre did not measure the door while at her residence to design the code footprint.Denise Duncan looks at the code footprint document designed by Zingre and Associates P.A. This stairway on the south side of the building is not listed as an exit in the footprint.This is the west staircase which leads down to the main level from the upper level and is not shown as an exit on the code footprint.This window is the exit that the code footprint shows as the only exit on this floor which has three staircases that lead down, Duncan said. It is a window on the main level of the building.This is the first page of a three-page letter that accompanied the code footprint design sent to the city in January 2018 by Zingre and Associates, P.A, provided by Duncan. The fourth paragraph states the biggest concern of the architects.The second page of the letter from Zingre and Associates P.A. to the City of Fort Scott. Listed are other points that need to be addressed by the Duncan’s in regard to their building.The third page from Zingre to the city.Following is the code footprint produced by Zingre and Associates P.A. for the city, dated Jan. 17, 2018.This is the lower level of the Beaux Art Center as shown in the code footprint.The main level of the Beaux Arts Centre.The upper level of the Beaux Arts Centre. This level has three stairway exits that are not designated as exits on the code footprint, a point of contention with the Duncans. The small triangle at the bottom of the design, notes the only exit listed on this floor, a window.The code footprint legend of the Beaux Arts Centres.A letter from Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn, which stated that a copy of the completed plan was sent to the state fire marshal. Denise Duncan said they should have had the report to look over and discuss with the city before it was sent.This is Duncan’s response to Dunn’s letter, saying there were many error and omissions in the code footprint. The letter tells the city of Duncan’s intent to close the business, the Beaux Arts Centre.Page 2 of the Duncan letter to the city.Denise Duncan highlighted the parts of this Kansas Municipality and Code Officials Brochure, which lists groups of buildings that must provide a code footprint. She contends that none of these apply to the Duncan building.
