Parties agree to pursue administrative cancellation; Board continues Pierce Street appeal

Tensions ran high on July 17 in an appeal over an alteration permit for 109–113 Pierce Street, where long‑term tenants and the permit holder disputed both the scope of work and whether tenant displacement would follow. New counsel for the permit holder told the board the owner was willing to cancel the permit; tenants pressed for stronger assurances and described vulnerabilities including health and mobility limitations.

Attorney Ryan Patterson for the permit holder proposed an administrative cancellation of the permit as a way to avoid further hearing controversy; tenant representative Hal Fisher said he would prefer to proceed if the permit holder was not willing to make substantial concessions. Department of Building Inspection senior inspector Joe Duffy said the underlying alteration permit (application 201902223653) is a standard permit to add a roof deck and other remodel work, but DBI records also show housing‑inspection notices of violation and other code enforcement activity for the property.

After hallway discussions, the parties agreed to pursue cancellation administratively and the board continued the item to its next meeting (July 31) to allow DBI to process a cancellation and for the parties to confirm any documentation. The board noted that DBI must lift the permit suspension briefly to permit cancellation and that staff would expedite processing if the cancellation paperwork is provided promptly.

What this means: The board did not adjudicate the substantive appeal at the hearing; instead, the parties agreed to use DBI’s administrative cancellation process and to return if the cancellation is not completed by the continued date.

Key details: DBI noted the permit had been issued April 30 and suspended May 15; cancellation requires DBI administrative action following submission of the signed cancellation form.