Construction of the St. Anne Lofts project began last October and is slated to finish later this year. The building will include retail space and 31 residential loft spaces.

But St. Anne Lofts has been plagued with issues and controversy over the past few months. In June, the fourth floor suddenly collapsed, luckily not injuring any construction workers or civilians.

In July, it was discovered that the developer was building a fifth floor without permission from the city. Permission was then granted by a city council vote, but the developers suffered no other consequences.

Then in August, the architectural design faced issues when it was discovered a brick pattern on the exterior of the building was in the sign of a cross. Although the cross was included in initial design blueprints for the project, it could only faintly be seen and easily went unnoticed.

Yet even after the many issues it has faced, St. Anne Lofts was granted a temporary certification for occupancy on Aug. 23 from the city, although some council members have expressed concerns with the safety of potential residents. After an inspection by the city, the building still has some issues that must be taken care of by the developer before a permanent certificate for occupancy can be issued.

The controversy and concerns this project has faced only makes the city council appear weak and uninvolved. Building a fifth floor without permission from the city is an issue that should have resulted in severe punishment for the developer, rather than a slap on the wrist. The city council must set more boundaries for builders to ensure the safety of potential residents.

But who can be surprised that this council struggled with managing the St. Anne Lofts when it had such a difficult time managing the proposed City Center II project? The council might be taking an overly friendly approach with builders and developers, but the city needs them to begin using more caution and more of a firm hand before construction projects go awry.

A dissenting member of the council, Don Power, who seemed the most interested in keeping developers accountable, resigned from the council in late August. In Power’s absence, other members of the council must step up and take advantage of the authority they have been given to make sure the city’s construction projects are being handled efficiently.

Ultimately, the St. Anne Lofts project is a fiasco that the council most likely wants to move past. But how can the council ensure the safety of potential residents when the builders are playing by their own rules? The council members represent the city in holding these builders and developers accountable for their actions.

If they don’t do so, the city must hold them accountable.