RE 7 Pleasant Street Northampton MA
IPM.Note
RE: 7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
RE:
Louis Hasbrouck
EX
/O=MAIN/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=LHASBROUCK
7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
Louis Hasbrouck
EX
/O=MAIN/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=LHASBROUCK
Jesse Adams
'David Narkewicz'
7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
00000002EXCHANGE/o=main/ou=First Administrative Group/cn=Recipients/cn=lhasbrouckMicrosoft Exchange Server
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David, Jesse
I inspected the building at 7 Pleasant Street last evening at the request of the tenant. I met briefly with Ms. Criscuolo and then with the building owner (Jordi Herold)
and his attorney.
The upper floors of that building were renovated in the spring of 2010. An architect and a structural engineer were both involved in the renovations. I did a number of inspections during
the work, including an inspection of the framing. I specifically requested that a structural engineer be involved in the project. One of the beams at the 3rd floor ceiling level was
reinforced per specifications of the engineer; not the beam that Ms. Criscuolo is most concerned about. The beam in question is supported on one end by the beam that was reinforced.
The beam in question has been in place for a number of years.
Ms. Criscuolo had contacted the Board of Health. One of the health inspectors went to the building yesterday afternoon. He spoke to me about the situation and showed me pictures. I reviewed
our records and told the inspector that I was not overly concerned because of the recent work.
Ms. Criscuolo called me late yesterday afternoon. As I was familiar with the building, I told Ms. Criscuolo what had been done. I wanted to reassure her that registered design professionals
had been involved in the renovations, had assessed the situation prior to and during the work and that I was satisfied that the job had been done correctly. I asked Ms. Criscuolo what
she wanted me to do because I didn’t understand what she was requesting from this department.
I would ordinarily have inspected the building this morning. Based on my prior inspections and the design work done during the project, I did not believe that there was an imminent danger
of collapse. I decided to inspect yesterday when Ms. Criscuolo told me that the roof was sagging. The roof structure was not part of the work done last spring and snow loads were high
this winter.
I insisted that the owner accompany me because he is responsible for the building and would be responsible for any work that might need to be done. I did not request that he bring his
attorney.
I carefully examined the beam that Ms. Criscuolo is most concerned about. It does show a significant amount of checking (as does an intersecting beam), and also some shake on one side.
Ms Criscuolo pointed out a place on the beam that she believes is cracked and I closely examined that spot. There is a small crack next to a knot. The beam in question does not carry
any of the roof load and was not affected by the snows this winter. The only load on this particular beam is a portion of the 4th floor.
I believe that the beams are hemlock. Hemlock is prone to checking. Checking is normal and is more apparent during the winter when the humidity is very low. Shake is also more apparent
during times of low humidity. The crack does not appear to be significant; it extends ~ 1” from the knot through a portion of the shake. I could not detect an excessive amount of deflection
on the 4th floor over the beam.
I do not believe that the building is unsafe. Based on the degree of checking and shake, I told Mr. Herold hat he had to have the beams evaluated by an engineer. I suspect that an engineer
will require some reinforcement based on the checking but I am not concerned about structural failure.
I did not tell Ms. Criscuolo that the landlord had a fine reputation in the city. I did tell her that both the architect and the engineer involved in the project last spring had excellent
reputations, that I had worked with them on numerous occasions and that I have considerable respect for both of them. I also told her that Mr. Herold was cooperative during the project
and agreed to my request that an architect and an engineer be involved.
Based on my inspection, I am not prepared to post the building as unsafe. I will ensure that Mr. Herold have an engineer evaluate the building as soon as possible and that Mr. Herold
do any work required by the engineer.
I am sorry that Ms. Criscuolo feels that I did not respond appropriately in this situation. I wish I could have put her more at ease.
Louis Hasbrouck
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton
Town of Williamsburg
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1240
From: dnarkewicz@gmail.com [mailto:dnarkewicz@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David Narkewicz
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 7:48 AM
To: Louis Hasbrouck
Cc: Jesse Adams
Subject: Fwd: 7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
Dear Louis,
Councilor Adams and I received the e-mail below from Attorney Mark NeJame on behalf of Ms. Felicia Criscuolo who resides at 7 Pleasant Street in Northampton. I would like to discuss
this issue with you at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
David
--
David Narkewicz
Councilor At-Large
City Council President
31 South Park Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
413.586.7230
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark NeJame <Mark.nejame@verizon.net>
Date: Thu, Mar 31, 2011 at 5:25 PM
Subject: 7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
To: jesse.michaeladams@gmail.com, dnarkewicz@comcast.net
Cc: "Mark A. NeJame" <mark.nejame@verizon.net>, feliciaac63@comcast.net
Councilors Adams and Narkewicz:
I am advising Felicia Criscuolo who resides at 7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, Massachusetts. She has been renting an apartment at this address and also operates a gallery on the second
floor of that property. Ms. Criscuolo has had significant problems with the apartment including major roof leaks and questions about the stability of the structure.
She recently returned from an out of town visit to find the central beam in her apartment showing significant signs of splitting and cracking (photos attached). She consulted a contractor
familiar with structural issues who told her that the apartment was unsafe and advised her to contact the building inspector and the landlord. She then spoke to a structural engineer
who had inspected the building in 2010 and considers the property structurally unsafe. He then advised her to contact the building inspector.
I also urged her to contact Mr. Hasbrouck as her landlord is not addressing the issue and she feels it is unsafe to continue living there. In addition, if the structural integrity of
that building is questionable, it constitutes a public hazard for that intensely populated area.
Ms. Criscuolo then contacted Mr. Hasbrouck today who at first refused to inspect the property and asked Ms. Criscuolo what she expected him to do. Hasbrouck said that the building had
been inspected last year. Ms. Criscuolo responded that structures all across the City had major roof and structural problems due to the snow buildup over the winter and that the main
load-bearing beam was showing signs of imminent collapse. The structural problem with the beam was increasingly apparent over the winter and most recently has become alarming. Mr.
Hasbrouck reluctantly agreed to inspect but insisted upon calling in the Landlord, claiming that the Landlord had a fine reputation in the City.
In my opinion, a matter of public safety such as this which threatens a downtown building and potentially the two abutting buildings should be a matter of immediate concern to the Building
Commissioner. Further, he should not have to ask the resident "what she expected him to do." I am writing to you on behalf of Ms. Criscuolo to ask that her immediate safety concerns
be addressed and further, that she not be characterized or be made to feel as though she is causing problems for the City's Building Commissioner in response to her expressing significant
safety concerns.
Do you have advice or suggestions of how Ms. Criscuolo proceed at this point?
Attorney Mark A. NeJame
NeJame & Kling Law Offices
90 Conz Street, Suite 208
Northampton, MA 01060
Tel. (413) 584-2675
Fax (413) 315-5270 <tel:%28413%29%20315-5270>
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RE%3A 7 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA.EML
Louis Hasbrouck
Louis Hasbrouck
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'David Narkewicz'
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'David Narkewicz'
David Narkewicz
Jesse Adams
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jessemadams@aol.com
jessemadams@aol.com
'Jesse Adams'
Jesse Adams