Look for the union label...where were the building inspectors? Oh, they're union members also, got it now.

Flawed Belltown building prompts city review of high rises
SEATTLE - Carpenters Tower was supposed to be a crowning achievement for the Seattle Carpenters Union Local 131. The union and partners own the building. The union seal proudly decorates the lobby entrance. The 272-unit McGuire Apartment complex was named for its founder, and a lot of union members worked on its construction.
Now, the Carpenters Union will have to move out, along with the rest of the tenants.
"This building was not constructed as approved by permit and over time sustained structural deterioration which could make it unsafe by 2011," said Bryan Stevens, Seattle Planning and Development.
It's a shocking development for a building that's only 9 years old.
Sources tell KING 5 that the first signs of trouble were cracks and water leaks. Then a chunk of concrete fell off an outside wall.
Last week, the outside engineer hired to analyze the building determined the flaws went much deeper, that the steel used to reinforce the concrete was corroding. The ends of the steel rods embedded in the concrete weren't protected with the right kind of paint, and the grout used to seal everything wasn't nonshrink grout, which allowed water in.
The city issued a hazard notice directing the owner to correct the unsafe conditions or vacate the building by the end of the year. The city says the owners have decided to demolish it because it would be too expensive to make repairs.
Who's at fault here?
"I don't know exactly who's at fault ... the city approved and reviewed the plans that met code but we do require special inspection agency to verify the building is constructed per plan," said Stevens.
Late Monday, the building's owner placed the blame on the contractor, McCarthy Building Companies of St. Louis.
"There are issues which go back, from the outset, the completion of the building," says John Parker, the President of Kennedy and Associates which owns the building.
Like many West Coast cities, Seattle says it counts on so-called "special inspectors" to review and monitor major high rises because the city doesn't have the resources or expertise to do it.
The building managers still had leasing signs outside this weekend, even as tenants were notified the building was too flawed to fix and was going to be demolished.
Of course that raises the question: Could there be other flawed buildings out there?
"We don't believe there's a risk here. We are looking into our permits to see if there are any other buildings that have had similar repairs but this is really a very unique situation something we've never encountered in the city before," said Stevens.
The city told KING 5 it appears the building contractor, McCarthy, didn't use the proper materials and the third party inspectors didn't catch the mistake.
The builder told our newspaper partner the Seattle Times that it disputes the assessment. A spokesperson says McCarthy's own experts believe operations could continue, and the building is safe.
Inspectors did answer questions via e-mail. The company president for Mayes Engineering says while they were responsible for testing the steel structure, they were not responsible for the corrosion inhibitor or the grouting, which appears to be the issue.