Loading...
32A-204 (2) October 26, 2011 Brenda J. Church Local Inspector /Zoning Enforcement Officer 212 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 Dear Ms. Church: For over a year now the general deterioration of the building next door to me, 42 -44 Butler Place, has been a subject of distress to the immediate neighborhood, and over the last few weeks there has been growing concern over the danger to the health and safety of its inhabitants and passersby. A month ago some work was begun to repair the collapsing porches. A few makeshift props were inserted, and a lot of rotting boards torn off the upper porch and dumped unceremoniously onto the lawn. The work has been desultory with a couple of workmen arriving for a brief interval -- often less than hour - two or three times a week. Meanwhile the deterioration of the fagade continues and there is a very real possibility that a heavy wind, rain or snow storm could lead to its collapse. Meanwhile too, the pile of rubble beside the house remains untouched and could well become a haven for rodents or raccoons. I trust that you will look into this matter. We obviously have here an accident that is simply waiting to happen. I want to thank you in advance for your prompt attention. Patrick Gregory November 14, 2011 Brenda J. Church Local Inspector /Zoning Enforcement Officer 212 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 Dear Ms. Church: Pursuant of my letter of October 24 concerning the property at 42 -44 Butler Place. I spoke to my neighbor last night about the ongoing situation at his place and he told me 1) that before beginning work on the project nobody ( ?) had informed him that he would need a building permit and "engineer" (architect ?), 2) that his present work crew had suspended activity until the city granted the permit, and 3) nothing could be done in the interval to remove the rubble or continue restoration of the building, and that he, as he put it, "was caught in the middle" between the city's inactivity and that of his work crew and that it was likely that winter weather would intervene to halt any progress on the construction or clean up. The implication of the above was, as I understood it, that if nobody had complained about the violations he would have continued in his own good time to have put the property in ship -shape order. I would appreciate anything you can do to move this matter along. Surely something can be done soon about the removal of the rubble. Thanks again for you kind attention. Patrick Gregory RECEIVED RECEIVE_ sal ?nip SEP 2 8 2012 DEPT. OF BUILDING I P NORTHAMPTON 28, 2012 DEPT. OF BUILDINu :Ivc CNS NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 Since last autumn, when the two attached letters were written, some sporadic cosmetic repairs have been made to the exterior of 42 -44 Butler Place, but the structure remains a danger to its inhabitants and an eyesore in the neighborhood. There is little reason to believe the current patchwork repairs will enable its porches to withstand another winter. Over the many months of its continued dereliction the building has to the residents of Butler Place seemed to stand in defiance to anything your department can do to enforce the most basic regulations. Can something be done to ensure that its owner assumes responsibility for bringing it into conformity with current housing codes while showing some respect for the architectural integrity of the neighborhood? Sincerely yours, a_hic Patrick Gregory tba17w4 Justina Gregor City of Northampton #'' Mass achusetts -- 4 - DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING I NSPECTIONS " 212 Main Street • Municipal Building 1 Northampton, MA 01060 s ' z ' INSPECTOR George Smarz One Primrose Path Hatfield, MA 01038 September 28, 2011 Map /Lot 32A -204 Dear Sir: We received a complaint concerning your property at 42 -44 Butler Place. I visited the property and found the front porch partially renovated. This is a primary egress for this structure and needs to be made safe immediately. The second floor door to the porch has been opened and we have reports of tenants dangling their legs from the edge of the still unrailed porch. The Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR Chapter 1, section 103.1 requires that "All buildings and structures and all parts thereof, both existing and new, and all systems and equipment therein which are regulated by 780 CMR shall be maintained in a safe, operable and sanitary condition. All service - equipment, means -of egress;- devices - and - safeguards - whisk- are - required- bg--80- CMR -in=a- building or - — -- -- structure, or which were required by a previous statute in a building or structure, when erected, altered or repaired, shall be maintained in good working order." Continued use without repairs constitutes a violation of the building code. This letter shall, in accordance with section 118.2, serve as a notice of violation and order to make safe the required means of egress. Penalties in accordance with section 118.3 will be assessed if the violations are not corrected. There has been a building permit to repair the porch since December 27, 2011. Although there has been some progress the porch currently without rails on two levels, which constitutes an unsafe situation. You are hereby required to immediately secure the two second floor porch doors to prevent access to the upper porch level and to install caution taping to create a limited walkway across the first floor porch to access the exit stair. You are further required to complete the installation of code compliant rails and guards no later than October 11, 2012. Our telephone number is 587 -1240 and our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting that we close at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays. My email address is: cmiller (a�city.northampton.ma.us Thank yo for your cooperation. Sincerely, Charles Miller City of Northampton Assistant Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement