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Abatement board upholds order for 1651 Mason St., defers recording for 30 days
Summary
The Abatement Appeals Board upheld DBI’s order of abatement for an unpermitted dwelling at 1651 Mason Street but placed the filing on title under a 30‑day advisement while owners pursue inspections; the commission also approved assessing department costs.
The Abatement Appeals Board on March 17 upheld a Department of Building Inspection order of abatement for an illegal dwelling unit at 1651 Mason Street but agreed to defer recording the order on the property title for 30 days.
Senior Housing Inspector Matt Green presented DBI’s case, saying inspectors found a converted dwelling in the rear building’s basement area that lacked required permits and raised egress and occupancy concerns. Green said a notice of violation was issued after a complaint-driven inspection on Nov. 24, 2008, a director’s hearing was held on Jan. 7, 2010, and the order followed because the owner had not complied. He told the board the department had spent about 10.5 inspector hours on the case and estimated associated assessment costs at about $2,400.
The owners’ agent, Robert (Bob) Nelke, said the owners had applied for two building permits the day before the hearing and asked the board for a 30‑day continuance so an inspector scheduled for March 24 could sign off on work, and to avoid an order that would immediately be recorded on title. Nelke said the unit was currently vacant and described historical confusion in permit records for the two‑building lot.
Commissioners debated whether to uphold the order while allowing time to complete inspections. The board voted to uphold both the order of abatement and DBI’s assessment of costs, but to hold off on recording the order on the title for 30 days (an advisement period) to allow the owners to finish the inspection/permit process. The roll call was unanimous.
