Abatement Appeals Board upholds orders for 938–940 Hampshire Street after testimony from tenants, staff and owner

Summary

The Abatement Appeals Board unanimously upheld two orders of abatement tied to 938–940 Hampshire Street, finding most items on a 20-item notice of violation remained uncorrected. Tenants and staff cited unsafe conditions and displacement; the new owner and contractor said permits and planning requirements have delayed full repairs.

The Abatement Appeals Board on July 15 unanimously upheld two orders of abatement for 938–940 Hampshire Street, concluding that multiple maintenance and habitability violations cited by the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) remained unresolved.

Rosemary Boskey, DBI chief housing inspector, told commissioners that a reinspection in mid‑February found only two of roughly 20 items on the principal notice of violation partially corrected. She cited broken windows, missing water‑heater strapping, flooring and rodent infestation among the outstanding items and said the department had ordered the building vacated on April 3 because the structure was not safe for occupancy. "The building was in such bad shape that the Department of Building Inspection had ordered the building to be vacated," Boskey said.

Appellant counsel Zachson Friedman acknowledged some inaccuracies in his brief but said the property’s new owner, Working Dirt R2 LLC, took title in mid‑January and has been trying to obtain permits and contractors to…

Abatement Appeals Board upholds orders for 938–940 Hampshire Street after testimony from tenants, staff and owner

Summary

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