be handled?
Neis: the next step after would be to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy for the
building, likely a partial revocation.
Moermond: this is a condemnation hanging out there quite a while. Often there is faster
turnaround and expectation. It looks like the Department has made a finding it is
indeed unsafe but it isn’t “code red”. Maybe code orange. It is called out but you
haven’t forced the question since it was originally brought forward.
Neis: August of 2021 when we went out, please understand, this is a Fire Certificate of
Occupancy and we are in the business of occupying business and not shutting them
down. This is a case where we wanted to avoid displacement. At that time the
staircase was still fairly useable. I walked it at that time, albeit reluctantly. We let the
Fire Department know not to use it to bring up heavy equipment. Occupants agreed to
remove furniture and not use for leisurely purposes. We left the timeline open for a
couple of reasons: one being it an HPC issue, and two, I can’t think of another
structure in the city that is this size. It is massive. We knew time and finances were
involved. We were maybe a little too trusting when we were told it would be done in the
sprint. We should have given a more immediate deadline. It was maybe a code yellow
that August. Now we’re getting into code orange, or maybe even code red now. It may
not even be safe for emergency purposes at this point.
Moermond: so, we have four bids coming in. I’m sure the board is actively considering
financing. I know the original proposal was daunting. They will have to pull the trigger
on something or there will have to be a vacate date. Have you talked to contractors on
the timeline for executing the work?
Stevenson: we’ve reached out to 29 contractors total to expedite this. Just to express
we are doing everything we can. Yes, I can ask for a firm timeline but the association
needs the opportunity to review those proposals and decide based off those bids.
Once they have a vendor they can base their loan amount on that. There has been
preliminary discussion with budgetary figures on expectation of costs and actions
being taken from property management and the board to make sure everyone is on the
same page.
Moermond: I’m not looking for submission of proposal timeline. I want to know when
permits will be finaled and the situation made safe. We have HPC review, board
review, demolition, and construction. That all leads to the finaled permit being the
finish line. The board needs to move expeditiously with its portion of this. I’m thinking
September 1 looking at the calendar. This construction season and more than
accounts for design issues with HPC. Thoughts on that?
Stevenson: it does sound like the HPC understands the situation which is beneficial. I
do think that is feasible. The priority is getting a contract accepted and finances
sorted, it is just the contractor’s timeline. As soon as we have an accepted proposal
the priority will be speaking with that selected vendor. There are some unknowns and
change order possibilities. Once we remove the large structure we have the connection
which is an unknown, and some flat roof membranes that need to be replaced. It is
hard to put a timeline in advance. We understand the need for timeliness and that will
be communicated to all parties involved to ensure it is expeditious. I would love to see
a September 1 date for completion but I can get realistic feedback on timelines as
soon as we have a contractor in place.
Moermond: and I get you are balancing those concerns and I am balancing exclusively
the life-safety concerns. September 1 feels overly generous in terms of people not
having a safe second means of egress. It isn’t safe. Mr. Neis, in terms of use you did