Operators of an obstacle course gym in Barrio Logan did not obtain a building permit for a poorly constructed platform that collapsed Saturday night, injuring dozens of children, according to a city report released Thursday.

San Diego investigators determined the parkour gym, called Vault PK, hadn’t been issued any building permits, nor had any of the other businesses located in the same warehouse on Main Street.

Mike Richmond, deputy chief of the city’s code enforcement division, described the situation as “dangerous” and “egregious.”

“If proper permits were obtained and if inspections were made by the city it would have avoided all the terrible things that happened to the affected people,” he said.


The collapse happened at Vault PK, where children learn how to run, jump and flip through obstacle courses like those seen on “American Ninja Warrior.”

Dozens of people were injured. A fire spokesman said 23 people, mostly children, were taken away in ambulances, but parents who were present said many others drove themselves to hospitals.

On Sunday and Monday, San Diego city and fire inspectors began combing the warehouse, where the businesses were housed. They found a long list of violations.

The gym platform that fell was improperly constructed as were walls, mezzanines, stairs, partitions, restrooms, locker rooms and offices throughout the space, according to the report.


The warehouse didn’t have the right number of exits or the appropriate number of bathrooms. The fire sprinkler system was inoperable and certain areas didn’t have sprinklers at all. There were serious structural deficiencies as well, including damaged fire walls and a support column that could have led to a roof collapse.

Mat Kostrinsky and his family were at the gym celebrating his son’s 9th birthday party when the collapse occurred. Although Kostrinsky, who fell when the platform gave way, suffered only bruises and scratches, his mother suffered two broken ribs and several broken vertebrae.

He called Thursday’s news “disgraceful.”

“I’m just completely beside myself,” Kostrinsky said. “This is the worst news for a parent to get after what we just went through.”


“This should have never happened,” he added. “They didn’t do a single thing, it seems, to follow the law.”

He said he wants to see “everyone who allowed this and turned a blind eye or didn’t do their due diligence” to be held responsible.

Vault PK’s owner, Jessica Funke Ho, did not respond Thursday to questions about the report. A day after the platform collapsed, she released as statement that read in part: “I’m just as devastated for all the children affected as any other parent. Their safety has always been a priority.”

San Diego police officials said there will be no criminal investigation.


The 90,000 square-foot warehouse was built in 1962. Permits were last issued in 2001 and 2004 to tenant National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., allowing for additions including storage racks, walls, a rebuilt bathroom and air conditioning.

The Metropolitan Transit System, which runs the regional trolley and buses, bought the building in 2013 for eventual expansion of its adjacent trolley yard.

In October 2014, MTS leased 36,000 square feet of the warehouse to Diana Ocampo, the owner of San Diego Sports Entertainment Center, which operated Total Combat Paintball, Virtual Play Zine and Stay Classy Crossfit, said MTS spokesman Rob Schupp.

Those uses were covered in an MTS contract that required San Diego Sports to obtain all necessary city permits and licenses, Schupp said. MTS was receiving $15,921 a month for the lease.


“We were not aware of the significant other improvements inside the building,” Schupp said, referring to Vault PK and other businesses.

No one was. Code enforcement typically learns of buildings that are out of compliance when they’re reported and no complaints about the building had been lodged. The fire marshal was never sent to check on the Main Street warehouse because no building permits had been filed during MTS’ ownership, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Jose Ysea.

Schupp said the agency will be ejecting the entertainment businesses from the warehouse and is already in the process of terminating its lease with San Diego Sports.

“They will never operate again in our building. They can’t get back in. They’re gone,” Schupp said.


Efforts to reach Ocampo Thursday evening were not successful. The Total Combat Paintball website contained only a message that read, “We are deeply saddened by the incident that happened at VaultPK. As their neighbors, we have temporarily closed to aid in the investigation. We are committed to providing a safe and family oriented venue. Our hearts go out to the families involved.”

According to the city’s Development Services department, three building permits for the warehouse had been submitted to the city but were pending. A mechanical and electrical permit were also pending.

Schupp said MTS plans to review all its internal processes “to see where the breakdown was” in overseeing the building use. “Going forward, we will make sure our tenants follow all requirements.”

He said MTS has already taken care of a fire suppression system violation and will work to repair a structural support that had been damaged by a forklift.


Kostrinsky, the parent whose son celebrated his birthday at Vault PK, said he will be skeptical of other similar businesses in the future.

“How many other places are not compliant?” he asked.


Twitter: @LAWinkley

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lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com