Post by Larry Goodman on May 5, 2009 21:51:49 GMT -5
NWA Charlotte has announced that the promotion will resume operations with a show on May 23.
The question is where.
A meeting between the owners of NWA Charlotte and the Charlotte Building Standards Department is scheduled for Thursday to determine the extent of modifications necessary to re-open the NWA Coliseum.
Co-owner J.D. Costello indicated that the May 23 show will take place at another undetermined venue of the Coliseum is not an option.
The promotion's April 25 event at the Coliseum was shutdown after an anonymous 911 call was placed to the Charlotte Fire Department prompted fire and police to descend on the building. The fire department determined that the building to not meet the fire code for a multiplicity of reasons including lack of fire suppression system (sprinklers), lack of a central fire alarm and inadequate exits.
As the building occupant, it was NWA Charlotte’s responsibility to initiate the change of use process for the Coliseum, according to Rob Kinniburgh of the Charlotte Fire Marshal’s office. Kinniburgh explained that what is now the Coliseum was a warehouse space that NWA Charlotte converted into an assembly space. If not for the 911 call, the fire marshal would probably not have learned about the change of use until their next routine inspection. Co-owner Jay Joyce stated that NWA Charlotte obtained a business license and to the best of their knowledge, did what they were supposed to do. However, Kinniburgh said the business license specifically requires the licensee to meet all city codes and regulations.
Typically, when the fire marshal finds a non-conforming space, the occupant is allowed to bring the building into compliance over X time frame,“ said Kinniburgh.
On April 27, Costello released a statement on the company's website stating that the code issues would be resolved in time for their next show on May 9.
The next day, however, Costello and Joyce posted letters announcing that NWA Charlotte was ceasing operations citing an estimated cost of $250,000 to bring the building into safety compliance.
Costello and Joyce reversed fields again the next day by announcing that NWA Charlotte would continue to run shows after all. They credited the overwhelming support of the fans as a major factor in their decision. Their post on the NWA Charlotte website stated that they were contacted by city officials requesting a meeting at the Coliseum to determine how the building could be brought into safety compliance.
The question is where.
A meeting between the owners of NWA Charlotte and the Charlotte Building Standards Department is scheduled for Thursday to determine the extent of modifications necessary to re-open the NWA Coliseum.
Co-owner J.D. Costello indicated that the May 23 show will take place at another undetermined venue of the Coliseum is not an option.
The promotion's April 25 event at the Coliseum was shutdown after an anonymous 911 call was placed to the Charlotte Fire Department prompted fire and police to descend on the building. The fire department determined that the building to not meet the fire code for a multiplicity of reasons including lack of fire suppression system (sprinklers), lack of a central fire alarm and inadequate exits.
As the building occupant, it was NWA Charlotte’s responsibility to initiate the change of use process for the Coliseum, according to Rob Kinniburgh of the Charlotte Fire Marshal’s office. Kinniburgh explained that what is now the Coliseum was a warehouse space that NWA Charlotte converted into an assembly space. If not for the 911 call, the fire marshal would probably not have learned about the change of use until their next routine inspection. Co-owner Jay Joyce stated that NWA Charlotte obtained a business license and to the best of their knowledge, did what they were supposed to do. However, Kinniburgh said the business license specifically requires the licensee to meet all city codes and regulations.
Typically, when the fire marshal finds a non-conforming space, the occupant is allowed to bring the building into compliance over X time frame,“ said Kinniburgh.
On April 27, Costello released a statement on the company's website stating that the code issues would be resolved in time for their next show on May 9.
The next day, however, Costello and Joyce posted letters announcing that NWA Charlotte was ceasing operations citing an estimated cost of $250,000 to bring the building into safety compliance.
Costello and Joyce reversed fields again the next day by announcing that NWA Charlotte would continue to run shows after all. They credited the overwhelming support of the fans as a major factor in their decision. Their post on the NWA Charlotte website stated that they were contacted by city officials requesting a meeting at the Coliseum to determine how the building could be brought into safety compliance.