The Town of Needham Board of Health voted to sustain an emergency order declaring a basement unit on Riverside Street unfit for human habitation and to condemn, vacate and secure the premises.

Environmental health staff reported the December inspection that revealed an illegal basement dwelling in a two-family building with no independent second egress and a ceiling height recorded as below the state housing-code minimum of 7 feet. Inspectors said the arrangement posed an imminent danger because occupants of the basement lacked a separate, unobstructed means of escape, and oil tanks in the basement created additional hazard concerns.

Staff delivered orders via constable and arranged temporary hotel lodging paid by the property owner for the displaced occupant; owners also changed locks and placarded the unit. The building commissioner has issued a permit to demolish, and staff said the owner has pulled a building permit for demolition work. During the hearing the owner’s representative and board members discussed the 6-foot-10-inch building-code versus 7-foot housing-code thresholds and whether a variance could be granted or whether the unit should be remodeled to add a second egress.

Board members and staff emphasized they want to minimize displacement and noted options such as adding a second egress or pursuing an accessory dwelling unit or a variance if safety issues are addressed. The board also directed staff to coordinate with the building commissioner, the owners and zoning staff to ensure no surprises and to consider expedited procedures where appropriate.

Following the staff presentation and discussion, a board member moved to uphold the finding that the unit was unfit for human habitation and to sustain the orders to condemn, vacate and secure. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Staff will continue working with the building department and the owners on demolition or remediation plans; if the owner pursues reconstruction the public health division and building commissioner will inspect and must confirm the unit is fit for occupancy before an occupancy permit is issued. The board indicated that if a variance is needed it can be addressed either at a formal meeting or by delegated staff action that the board will ratify at a later meeting.