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Board upholds abatement for 196 Putnam, gives owner time to accept help and deadlines for life-safety repairs
Summary
The Abatement Appeals Board upheld an order of abatement for 196 Putnam Street but held enforcement in abeyance for six months while staff coordinates repairs and social services; life-safety repairs must begin within 30 days and be finished within 90 days, the board said.
The Abatement Appeals Board on Feb. 17 upheld an order of abatement for 196 Putnam Street but held enforcement in abeyance so the city can coordinate repairs and social-services support for the elderly homeowner.
Rosemary Bosque, chief housing inspector, told the board the property has been the subject of complaints since 2002 and was referred to the City Attorney in 2010. A February 2015 inspection produced the notice of violation now before the board. Bosque said staff has repeatedly offered assistance — including Adult Protective Services and nonprofit help — but that the owner often declined those offers.
Homeowner Lourilla Harris, who said she is 86 and lives on income under $20,000, told the board she cannot afford major repairs and that prior outreach left her reluctant to accept help after workers discarded books and personal items. "Need money. Need help," she said.
Neighbors described long-standing health and safety concerns. "There are vermin living in the house, there's no running water, there's no heat, the roof is leaking, there's mold," neighbor Julie Chen said, urging the board to set concrete deadlines. Christopher Simmons, who lives next door and shares a common wall with the house, said rodents had chewed through into his home and that his family experiences mold-related symptoms.
Commissioner Walker moved to uphold the order of abatement while holding enforcement in abeyance and to require staff to convene city agencies and nonprofit partners to assist the homeowner. Vice President Clinch seconded. During deliberations the board amended the motion to address statutory limits on extensions for life-safety hazards: the board required that life-safety work — identified by staff as lack of heat, lack of water service and egress obstructions — must have permits pulled and work commenced within 30 days and be completed within 90 days. The balance of notices of violation will be scheduled and a firm remediation plan and timeline will be prepared for the board.
Bosque told the board, "We'll give her all the help we can if she'll accept it," and said staff will reach out to the Department of Public Health, the Department of Aging, Adult Protective Services, the City Attorney's Office and the Mayor's Office of Housing to assemble resources and a case-management approach.
The board also directed staff to report back next month with a concrete schedule and to treat the case as a potential model for a more formalized interagency response for similar aging-owned properties. The motion passed unanimously on roll call.
What happens next: Staff will work with the homeowner and city and nonprofit partners to develop a schedule. If the life-safety work has not commenced within 30 days or is not completed within 90 days, the board's amendment makes clear the city may proceed with enforcement. The board said it will receive an update at its next meeting.
