I feel for these folks…I’ve long wondered why the street level area was never finished…it’s difficult to navigate if you’re a pedestrian with mobility issues. I. Sorry to hear about all of these problems inside.
I wouldn't necessarily blame the city for this. Projects 3 units and above are required to involve a licensed architect and licensed engineers. At the end of the project, they are supposed to sign affidavits saying that the work is up to snuff and submit to ISD in order to get an occupancy permit.
On larger projects, there is no way for the city inspector to inspect every corner of the building and catch all the flaws. That system works reasonably well most of the time on the other buildings we never hear about.
I guess maybe a few architects and engineers should be looking for a new line of work. If they signed affidavits to the ISD that were false, the ISD shouldn't accept their affidavits anymore.
It is condos that they own. Do you really think it would be that easy to sell a condo in a crappy building like that, then find a new place?
You also missed the point. The point is that the builders did not do what they were supposed to do.
At Marina Bay. And I imagine more developments will run into the same issue. These five over one cookie cutter complexes are built with shoddy material and poor labor. People don’t move because moving is expensive and cumbersome and where exactly do you go?
Because the owners are quite frankly probably underwater. I remember when that big condo tower off the J-Way was found to have a ton of issues and between the HOA fee and the special assessment fees to fix everything wrong, the monthly costs were something like 1200$ a month in building fees, and there were SO MANY units going up for sale and not moving at all. 1-2 bedroom units in JP for 300k not moving.
When we were purchasing our renovated Victorian in JP from Gary Martell about 20 years ago, we found (before negotiation) that the basement was flooding each storm and they were quietly pumping it out without telling the realtor. Luckily, that led to (mostly) fixing the problem and $10k price reduction.
We later found they installed an old AC unit rather than a new one after the last inspection and used a downspout pipe rather than an air duct to vent the first floor bath. The outside windows frames were rotting and we had to repaint the exterior within two years.
It was a lovely house, though, mostly thanks to late 1800's era craftsmanship.
Good bones will carry a house through a lot of shitty work and neglect. Part of the issue with these new buildings is the basic structure of the buildings are pretty bare bones to begin with, particle board and 1.25x3.25s, maybe some concrete brick around the elevator and that's it. So when water and time and issues arise, nothing else can compensate and it becomes very run down very fast.
The thing I don't get about cases like this: did the builder think that the people living there just would never notice that this building is (allegedly) crap?
This is going to be endemic in a few years. SOO many of these buildings are going up, absolutely slapdash, not even following their own submitted plans to shave costs and cut corners. House flipper level quality from the ground up.
You cannot achieve density when people who do buy into density have nothing but horror stories. Functional density, density people actually want to live in, requires not hearing every time your neighbor takes a shit.
"Sullivan and Martell proposed installing "puddy pads," material designed to absorb sounds"
Puddy Pads are designed to go around outlets, junction boxes, etc, as a supplement to a noise cancelling system. They are not remotely a solution to generalized sound problems. They are however super cheap and require no demo or repair. Idiots.
The city HAS to start monitoring these guys. Actual inspections where the approved plans are compared to the building going up and work has to stop until these removed features are fixed. Issues with water, drainage, etc, also effect the building's neighbors. Missing fire safety systems are a danger to the whole neighborhood. Stop enabling developers to cheap the fuck out once they get through the insane zoning process and redirect some of that energy to making sure the buildings going up are livable goddamn buildings.
I recall (from uHub) that the biggest gripe about this development as it was being vetted was that the tenants would be causing the neighbors unrelenting annoyance with the noise from their roof deck. I bet those neighbors are gloating today.
Comments
Should also sue Inspectional Services
Given all those horrific problems, how could an honest building inspector have possibly given final approval for this nightmare of a building?
Was thinking this as I was reading the article
How did this get a CO never mind pass all the other rough and final inspections?
Look when it was built
During Covid I’m not surprised.
I feel for these folks…I’ve
I feel for these folks…I’ve long wondered why the street level area was never finished…it’s difficult to navigate if you’re a pedestrian with mobility issues. I. Sorry to hear about all of these problems inside.
ISD is full of idiots
ISD, BPDA, ONS, MBTA are all D-U-M-B. Remember ISD also didn't do much to keep this destruction from taking place: https://www.universalhub.com/2023/owner-building-charles-street-beacon-h...
I wouldn't necessarily blame
I wouldn't necessarily blame the city for this. Projects 3 units and above are required to involve a licensed architect and licensed engineers. At the end of the project, they are supposed to sign affidavits saying that the work is up to snuff and submit to ISD in order to get an occupancy permit.
On larger projects, there is no way for the city inspector to inspect every corner of the building and catch all the flaws. That system works reasonably well most of the time on the other buildings we never hear about.
Time to pull licences
I guess maybe a few architects and engineers should be looking for a new line of work. If they signed affidavits to the ISD that were false, the ISD shouldn't accept their affidavits anymore.
ISD visited the site in
ISD visited the site in person at least once, right?
On a bright side, after the
On a bright side, after the owners fix this, they will be eligible for free museum passes.
and if they don't like it so
and if they don't like it so much, why don't they just move?
It is condos that they own.
It is condos that they own. Do you really think it would be that easy to sell a condo in a crappy building like that, then find a new place?
You also missed the point. The point is that the builders did not do what they were supposed to do.
A question you should ask yourself
.
Similar issues in Quincy
At Marina Bay. And I imagine more developments will run into the same issue. These five over one cookie cutter complexes are built with shoddy material and poor labor. People don’t move because moving is expensive and cumbersome and where exactly do you go?
Because the owners are quite
Because the owners are quite frankly probably underwater. I remember when that big condo tower off the J-Way was found to have a ton of issues and between the HOA fee and the special assessment fees to fix everything wrong, the monthly costs were something like 1200$ a month in building fees, and there were SO MANY units going up for sale and not moving at all. 1-2 bedroom units in JP for 300k not moving.
Because selling
Selling a home with these kinds of problems (and publicity about them) isn't going to be easy. On top of that, selling a home has its own costs.
The builder should live up to their obligations and requirements.
The builder should have a choice
Fix the building according to what he said, or never get a permit in Massachusetts again.
At least you recognize a
At least you recognize a decent one liner when you see one, even if you fumble when using it yourself. Keep at it.
Move, and sell it to whom?
Move, and sell it to whom?
Gary Martell houses
When we were purchasing our renovated Victorian in JP from Gary Martell about 20 years ago, we found (before negotiation) that the basement was flooding each storm and they were quietly pumping it out without telling the realtor. Luckily, that led to (mostly) fixing the problem and $10k price reduction.
We later found they installed an old AC unit rather than a new one after the last inspection and used a downspout pipe rather than an air duct to vent the first floor bath. The outside windows frames were rotting and we had to repaint the exterior within two years.
It was a lovely house, though, mostly thanks to late 1800's era craftsmanship.
What happened to that 15K?
What happened to that 15K?
Good bones will carry a house
Good bones will carry a house through a lot of shitty work and neglect. Part of the issue with these new buildings is the basic structure of the buildings are pretty bare bones to begin with, particle board and 1.25x3.25s, maybe some concrete brick around the elevator and that's it. So when water and time and issues arise, nothing else can compensate and it becomes very run down very fast.
Two things…
Two things…
Gary Martell. What a surprise.
Rwgfy will never get over the fact he lost the last mayoral election. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. LOL.
That sidewalk
That sidewalk is a crying shame. Developers like this should not be allowed to start a new project until the old cuts the mustard.
The thing I don't get about
The thing I don't get about cases like this: did the builder think that the people living there just would never notice that this building is (allegedly) crap?
I first met Gary back in the ‘80s
He seemed like a nice guy; I would hate to think that he’s dishonest.
This is going to be endemic
This is going to be endemic in a few years. SOO many of these buildings are going up, absolutely slapdash, not even following their own submitted plans to shave costs and cut corners. House flipper level quality from the ground up.
You cannot achieve density when people who do buy into density have nothing but horror stories. Functional density, density people actually want to live in, requires not hearing every time your neighbor takes a shit.
Puddy Pads are designed to go around outlets, junction boxes, etc, as a supplement to a noise cancelling system. They are not remotely a solution to generalized sound problems. They are however super cheap and require no demo or repair. Idiots.
The city HAS to start monitoring these guys. Actual inspections where the approved plans are compared to the building going up and work has to stop until these removed features are fixed. Issues with water, drainage, etc, also effect the building's neighbors. Missing fire safety systems are a danger to the whole neighborhood. Stop enabling developers to cheap the fuck out once they get through the insane zoning process and redirect some of that energy to making sure the buildings going up are livable goddamn buildings.
Wow Martell gets around. I
Wow Martell gets around. I knew I remembered his name from last year. Now another one?
https://www.universalhub.com/2023/developers-check-briefly-takes-center-...
Did anyone get a home inspection
or were their eyes glazed over by the crown molding?
I’m sure there are hundreds
of substandard developments throughout the City, but few can afford to sue.
But what about the noise from the roof deck?
I recall (from uHub) that the biggest gripe about this development as it was being vetted was that the tenants would be causing the neighbors unrelenting annoyance with the noise from their roof deck. I bet those neighbors are gloating today.