Grays Ferry Parking Garage Collapse Raises Inspection Questions

Records show more than half of scheduled inspections were canceled or waived before the deadly incident.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:21pm

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An extreme close-up of a cracked and damaged concrete slab, conceptually illustrating the structural failure that led to the deadly parking garage collapse.The aftermath of the Grays Ferry parking garage collapse exposes the consequences of lax construction oversight and safety inspections.Philadelphia Today

As the city investigates the partial collapse of a parking garage in Grays Ferry, Philadelphia, public records obtained by NBC10 are raising questions about the licenses and inspections of the construction project. Between October 2025 and March 2026, more than half of the 58 scheduled inspections were canceled or waived, though it's unclear why. The records do not specify whether the inspections were conducted by the Department of Licenses and Inspections or a special inspector hired for the precast project.

Why it matters

The high number of canceled or waived inspections is unusual and raises concerns about the oversight and safety measures in place for the construction project. Proper inspections are crucial to ensuring buildings are built according to approved plans and safety standards, especially for complex projects like a multi-level parking garage.

The details

According to the records, four types of inspections were scheduled: initial site inspections, permit issuance notifications, foundation wall inspections, and foundation footing inspections. While the initial site inspection passed, the permit issuance notification was waived. Of the 19 scheduled foundation wall inspections, one was canceled, five passed, and 13 were waived. Of the 37 scheduled foundation footing inspections, 17 passed, 7 were canceled, and 13 were waived. Drexel University engineering professor Dr. Abi Aghayere stated that waiving inspections is not typical and that 'construction is a really risky business' where 'one mistake can lead to the loss of life'.

  • Between October 23, 2025, and March 16, 2026, 58 inspections were scheduled for the Grays Ferry parking garage project.
  • The most recent successful inspections were a footing inspection on March 13 and a wall inspection on March 9.
  • The inspections scheduled for March 16 were waived.

The players

Cherelle Parker

The mayor of Philadelphia who issued an executive order directing the city to review permitting, inspection, construction, alteration and maintenance records tied to the Grays Ferry parking garage project.

Precast Services Inc.

A subcontractor identified by Mayor Parker as being involved in the installation of precast concrete floor, decking and roof segments at the Grays Ferry parking garage. However, the company is not listed on the commercial building permit, and there are no valid licenses and inspection contractor records for a company by that name in Philadelphia.

Dr. Abi Aghayere

A Drexel University engineering professor who stated that waiving inspections is not typical and that construction is a risky business where one mistake can lead to loss of life.

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What they’re saying

“I commit to you that we're going to find out what happened here.”

— Cherelle Parker, Mayor of Philadelphia

“I don't know all of the in and out of why they would have waived those inspections, but it's not common.”

— Dr. Abi Aghayere, Drexel University engineering professor

“Construction is a really risky business. I mean, one mistake can lead to the loss of life. So I will not waive any inspections, especially when a building is being built.”

— Dr. Abi Aghayere, Drexel University engineering professor

What’s next

The city's law department, in consultation with all related departments and inter-governmental entities, is conducting a review of the timeline of obligations of everyone involved in the construction of the Grays Ferry parking garage, including the contractors, subcontractors, and the inspections that should have taken place.

The takeaway

The high number of canceled or waived inspections for the Grays Ferry parking garage project raises serious concerns about the oversight and safety measures in place for this construction project. Proper inspections are crucial to ensuring buildings are built according to approved plans and safety standards, especially for complex structures like multi-level parking garages where one mistake can have devastating consequences.