Just a newspaper article. I opened it just fine.
Hanging out there might be a blast, but Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan is questioning whether the complex that touts itself as the state’s “largest indoor entertainment and family fun center” is safe for patrons.
Last week, the county sued Funplex to force the business to correct fire hazards identified by the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office at the more than 100,000-square-foot building. The facility, at 13700 Beechnut in far southwest Houston, advertises “5 acres” of amusements, including bowling, go-karts, skating, an arcade and a Ferris wheel.
Funplex has a history of “fire and life safety” violations that have gone unrepaired for at least two years. The fire alarm system was determined to be so defective that a “Fire Marshal Order” was issued requiring an individual to be placed on “fire watch” from 30 minutes prior to opening to the public until the last employee exits the building.
In the lawsuit (see below) filed last week, the county attorney asked the court to grant a temporary injunction to require Funplex’s owners to correct the safety hazards cited by the fire marshal and ensure that the business doesn’t continue violating the law.
Melissa Spinks, managing attorney for the county attorney’s litigation division, said this is a “highly unusual” and likely unprecedented lawsuit for the county or the fire marshal.
“We are not trying to shut down Funplex,” she said. “The point of the lawsuit is to get them into compliance with the Fire Marshal’s Office.”
She called the situation “a terrible disaster waiting to happen.”
On Dec. 23, 2013, the Fire Marshal’s Office issued 28 citations for deficiencies found on the property, including a non-functioning fire alarm system, blocked and non-functioning emergency exit doors, blocked sprinkler heads that couldn’t function properly, electrical hazards including overloaded circuits, exit passageways blocked by debris and storage, fire lanes blocked by new construction and non-functioning cooking suppression systems.
Those issues led the fire marshal to reduce the building’s occupancy to 299, which the business exceeded for a New Year’s Eve party, according to a news release from the county attorney’s office. Another large party planned last Friday – a Valentine’s Day concert featuring Reggaeton performer Arcángel – was held outside, Spinks said, adding that the building could accommodate more than 1,000 people if Funplex was in compliance with the fire marshal.
“This is a very dangerous situation. The fire marshal is very afraid of what would happen if a fire broke out,” Spinks said. “He brought it to us to see what we could do to get these people in compliance.”
In addition, the December inspection determined that the complex’s “International Office Bar” has no certificate of occupancy, patrons are allowed to use flares, the second floor was being used as a residence without required fire escapes or a fire alarm and construction was under way without permits.
The defendants in the lawsuit are West Ten Development, which owns Funplex, and the owner’s general partner, I.W.W. Realty.
A representative for Funplex said the general manager was not available immediately for comment.
The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and the building was inspected again on Friday. All 28 of the same violations were cited.