LYNN — The city has temporarily shut down the construction of a five-story wood-framed building on Andrew Street after an inspection revealed numerous code violations that had turned the development into a fire hazard.
Swampscott developer Zachary Andrews started constructing what will eventually become a 36-unit building over the fall. The building would house 32 market-rate apartments and four units of commercial space. He anticipates the project will be completed by October.
The city’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) issued a “stop order” at the job site on Feb. 20 that ordered Andrews to “immediately cease and desist” all work at 38-44 Andrew St., according to a letter from Keith Richard, the city’s building inspector, that was obtained by The Item.
Failure to comply with the order could result in daily fines of up to $300 per day, according to the letter.
“These issues are a potential danger to life and limb of the general public, as well as a danger to the construction site and the surrounding buildings,” Richard wrote.
Michael Donovan, chief of inspectional services, said the violations are atypical for a site that size. It wasn’t so much a lack of permitting that was the issue — the developer has “all sorts of permits,” Donovan said — but the concern was with how the work was being performed.
“Given the type of construction, a five-story wood building, these violations were just egregious,” said Donovan. “The dangers that we found on that site in regards to life and limb type dangers was that the building would burn down. It was a fire hazard.”
Richard wrote that he observed numerous code violations; unpermitted work; combustibles inside the building such as gas cans and bullet heaters; a lack of fire extinguishers; and standpipes that had not been installed, a type of rigid water piping which serves as a connection point for fire department hoses in multi-story buildings.
In addition, he said Andrews had not provided the required Workmen’s Compensation affidavits for sub-contractors working at the site with his permit application, which provides insurance for employees injured on the job.
Two other letters from ISD outline violations with plumbing and electrical work at the site. For that latter, a licensed electrician was working on the site, but he had hired a subcontractor, which is a violation of state law, according to the letter.
Donovan said he doesn’t anticipate the department would allow construction to resume until mid- to late next week. All work was halted with the exception of standpipe installation.
“We’re looking for the design engineers to perform inspections in the building and certify that everything that has been done is done to code, and once we receive that, we’ll allow them to start construction again,” said Donovan. “He’s cooperating and we’re working with the engineers to make sure everything gets back on track.”
In addition, Andrews was ordered to obtain all required permits, submit a job site and safety plan, and submit the proper workmen’s compensation documents.
Andrews said he doesn’t agree with many of the violations denoted by the city, but had planned to return the required documentation to ISD last Friday.
“This is very unfair (and) unjust,” said Andrews. “They absolutely caught me off-guard … If you have an issue, let me know and let me address it. Don’t just come up and say I’ve got to shut you down.”
Andrews said his engineers had deemed everything was up to code and he denied that there was any unpermitted work being done. He said it was his understanding that everyone working on the site was licensed. One of his mechanics had another worker helping him, but he had not asked whether that subcontractor had an apprentice license.
Although he’s not thrilled with how the process was carried out, Andrews said he’s looking forward to resuming construction as soon as possible.
“(The development is) going to be something that Lynn should be proud of to have,” said Andrews.
