LYNN — The Breakers at 285 Lynn Shore Drive hit a bit of a snag recently, as the building failed an inspection, forcing residents to vacate the premises for one month.
Mike Donovan, chief of Inspectional Services and Building Commissioner, said one of his employees was on an assignment and stumbled upon the issues at The Breakers.
“It was purely by accident that we found this. Nobody reported this,” Donovan said.
The Fire Department, building inspectors, and electrical inspectors went to the condominium following the discovery and saw the building had open electrical wiring, a non-functioning sprinkler and fire alarm system, and the elevator was not in service.
On April 25, the city’s Inspectional Services sent property manager SSM-Smith a letter, ordering them to fix the issues within one month’s time, and to vacate the premises.
“These deficiencies are of such nature that occupation of this unsafe structure must cease until repairs are made to correct these deficiencies. In its present condition this structure is not habitable,” the letter reads.
Donovan said they did a second check on May 16, and the building still failed inspection. On May 21, the building passed and tenants were allowed to move back in.
“As far as our office was concerned, we were done with them on May 21,” Donovan said.
There were also workplace errors with six to eight units under construction in the building.
“They created an issue by cutting through some of the floors that run conduit from the basement up to the fifth or sixth floor, and that has been resolved too,” Donovan said. “Those were violations of workplace activities and they were corrected quickly.”
The elevator is still not operational, but is waiting on parts to be delivered.
Donovan said the city inspects buildings like The Breakers once every five years.
“Those old building need to be properly maintained,” Donovan said.
The Breakers house condos, with some units being owner occupied and others rented.
Property Manager SSM – Smith, Scott Miller, declined to comment on the matter.
