It has been a challenging three years for tenants at 3600 S. Yosemite St. in Denver. Last week, the building’s parking garage collapsed, causing damage to vehicles and prompting a full evacuation of the building. Attorney Lisa Guerra and her firm, Guerra Law Firm, have been unable to return to their offices since the incident.

Garage Collapse and Safety Concerns

Lisa Guerra expressed her concerns about the garage’s condition prior to the collapse. “The garage actually did scare me. … It was messy, it was dirty, it just doesn’t look like it was well maintained,” she stated. Several cars were damaged in the collapse, including a 2017 Ford Escape owned by tenant Jennifer Burgess.

Long-Standing Building Issues

Guerra’s issues with the building predate the garage collapse, beginning shortly after she moved in. She reported being able to clearly hear conversations in the adjacent office, raising confidentiality concerns for her legal practice. Despite moving to another location on the same floor, the issue persisted.

Recurring Elevator Problems

Tenants also experienced frequent disruptions due to a chronically malfunctioning elevator. Jennifer Burgess noted that her uncle became stuck in the elevator on four separate occasions. Technicians were reportedly called in weekly to address the ongoing elevator repairs.

Owner Response and City Inspections

SF Partners, the Miami, Florida-based owner of the building, has been unclear about the timeline for tenants’ return. Elliot Grub, Vice President of SF Partners, stated, “We’re still in the process of gathering information so we have nothing to provide right now,” to BusinessDen following the collapse. The company has not responded to subsequent requests for further details.

Emergency Permits and Unpermitted Work

The city’s Community Planning and Development (CPD) department has ordered SF Partners to obtain an emergency permit for temporary shoring and stabilization of the garage. Alex Foster, a CPD spokeswoman, explained that the shoring will be inspected by both a structural engineer and a CPD building inspector before vehicle retrieval is permitted. This process is expected to take several days or more.

Notably, this is the first permit the building has obtained in nearly three years. Guerra filed a complaint with CPD after noticing unpermitted construction work on her office space, but a city inspector found no issues. Burgess also reported recent unpermitted work on the garage entrance, noting crumbling beams and leaks.

Building Ownership History

SF Partners purchased the 10-story building, located one block south of Hampden Avenue, in October 2019 for $13.4 million. The company also owns office buildings in Colorado Springs and Greenwood Village.