Tuckpointing Work Expected To Alleviate Robinson Building Concerns

Workers from a Council Bluffs masonry company began doing tuckpointing work earlier this week on the 100-plus-year-old Robinson Block building, located on the southwest corner of Glenwood’s Town Square.

The sidewalk that runs along the north side of the two-story structure was taped off earlier this winter after bricks began breaking away from the building’s facade. The tuckpointing work was suggested by a structural engineer who inspected the building at the request of the city, according to Glenwood Fire Chief Matt Gray.

The city asked the building’s owner, Jim Tucker, to have the structure inspected, Gray said.

“We had some issues with the building,” he said. “That’s why we requested a structural engineer come in and take a look at it. Mr. Tucker has complied in doing that and he’s supposed to be supplying me with the engineer’s report once they get it done.”

In addition to the falling bricks, adding to the concern about the Robinson Block is the fact that two adjacent buildings that were once attached to the structure – to the west and south - have both collapsed over the past 30 years.

Although he’s yet to see a final inspection report, Gray said he doesn’t believe the engineer who inspected the Robinson Block is concerned about a collapse at this time.

“I was there when he did some of it (inspection),” Gray said. “I know at that time he said he had no concerns with collapsing or anything. He said it needed a lot of tuckpointing.”

The tuckpointing work is expected to take several days.