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Board continues DBI appeal on 15 Nobles Alley / 472 Union St. to Feb. 6 after permit and NOV record review requested
Summary
After contentious testimony about missing or inconsistent permit plans, Notices of Violation and the number/location of dwelling units at 15 Nobles Alley/472 Union St., the Board of Appeals continued Mark Bruno’s appeal and directed the building department and permit holder to clarify records; the matter was continued to Feb. 6, 2019 with a requirement for a six‑page brief and supporting exhibits.
The Board of Appeals continued an appeal by tenant Mark Bruno challenging a renovation permit and related Notices of Violation at 15 Nobles Alley / 472 Union Street to Feb. 6, 2019, after residents raised safety and record‑keeping concerns and DBI said the property has a complex permit history.
Bruno told the board the permit application refers to a "studio" unit and a ground‑floor unit that residents say do not exist in the building configuration, and he alleged inconsistent records (including a DBI notice that lists one address as a "hotel"). He and other long‑term tenants raised habitability complaints (loose stair carpeting, maintenance NOVs) and said they fear displacement tied to the owner’s permit activity.
The permit holder’s counsel, Leo LaRocque, said the owner seeks to complete work that earlier permittees began and to comply with an abatement order; DBI Senior Inspector Joe Duffy summarized the department’s review: several expired permits, multiple prior NOVs, and a need to reconcile permit numbers and legal unit counts. DBI recommended a site review and record cleanup. Commissioners found the permit drawings lacked adequate site context (no floor/site plan showing how the studio relates to Union/ Nobles facades) and directed a continuance to allow counsel to file a six‑page brief with exhibits, for DBI to inspect/clean up the permit and NOV record, and for the parties to return prepared to address unit counts, permit history and any outstanding abatement requirements.
The Board scheduled the matter for Feb. 6, 2019 and asked DBI and the permit holder to cooperate on a thorough review before the next hearing.
