Owner of 2401 N. Atlantic disputes painting violations; magistrate gives July 8 deadline

The special magistrate on June 9 heard a contested compliance matter for Elephant Group Hotel 7 Inc., owner of 2401 North Atlantic Avenue. The hearing focused narrowly on whether peeling or faded exterior paint remained after the owner said he had paid contractors to clean and repaint the property.

Inspector John Stinson testified that his June 8 inspection showed the only remaining violation was peeling paint on portions of the building’s fascia and other exposed surfaces. "The only thing that's left for this property to correct is the peeling paint," Stinson said, noting the case had been open since mid-2025.

Owner Abraadia Ovaria (appearing by Zoom from overseas) told the magistrate he had invested in cleanup and repainting and provided receipts and photographs showing work performed. "I pay almost $5,000 to clean... I paint the place," Ovaria said, adding that trespassing and vandalism have repeatedly set back repairs.

After reviewing city photos and the owner's materials, Special Magistrate Robert Riggio amended the order of non-compliance and allowed the respondent until July 8, 2026 to finish corrective work; the case will be returned for consideration of fines on July 14 if the peeling paint issue is not resolved. Riggio said the inspector and property representative should coordinate on-site to identify the specific spots requiring touch-up painting.

The magistrate encouraged direct inspection-and-sign-off: if the inspector can identify and verify the small remaining areas, the property may be signed off without further penalty. If not remedied by the deadline, the city indicated it would seek fines up to the amounts permitted under the order.