<p>Records for the project at the Triangle show a pattern of mistakes and faulty construction since work began this winter. The building was closed abruptly on April 1 due to water damage.
Records for the Edgartown Lofts commercial building project at the Triangle show a pattern of mistakes and faulty construction since work began this winter, including failure to secure the building during rainstorms, failure to follow building plans, and failure to install required materials designed to meet public health, safety and fire codes.
Owned by Boston developer Charles Hajjar, the building attracted public attention last month when the main Edgartown post office was abruptly closed due to water damage. The April 1 closure caused confusion and angst among some 3,000 postal customers and a hasty scramble among town and postal officials to find a temporary location for central mail delivery. The post office is a tenant on the first floor of the building, which has been closed indefinitely. The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank also has a small branch office on the lower floor of the building which has been closed. A construction project is under way on the second story of the building for five apartments.
Following a public outcry after rain began pouring into the building through the second floor, Mr. Hajjar apologized and said immediate steps would be taken to make repairs and get the project back on track. A June 1 date has been set for reopening the post office.
The project and its principals have not been cited for any violations of state or town laws or regulations.
But records filed with the Edgartown building inspector’s office show that problems with the building project were documented beginning in late March by the owner of a Concord design/build firm working for Mr. Hajjar.
Charles Rolando, president and founder of Domus Inc., the firm that designed the project, signed and filed two construction control progress reports with the town on March 22, and again on April 8.
The March report outlined a number of significant construction errors requiring correction, including incorrectly installed sheetrock, improperly cut rafters, no insulation as required to meet fire codes, a stairwell that did not meet building codes and an incorrectly installed subfloor that the builder was ordered to remove and do over. Other parts of the report note the wrong size lumber used for wall studs, incorrectly applied sheetrock screws, and failure to install specified strapping on roof ridges. The strapping is designed to protect the building in a hurricane.
And the problem of the building being exposed to the elements was noted, apparently not for the first time: “Builder again reminded that the entire roof must be covered with bituthane waterproofing,” it said.
Two weeks later, after the post office and bank had been closed, a second construction control report was filed noting that all the errors cited in the first report had not been corrected.
The second report said: “Almost all open areas that were being protected from the rain and snow by the contractor’s tarps had failed. The builder failed to provide all measures necessary to protect the existing structure during construction as per the structural general notes and specification the contract documents.”
The builder in charge of the project is Gene Erez. Mr. Erez does not have a construction supervisor’s license according to the Massachusetts Division of Public Safety, which administers exams and issues licenses. The building permit for Edgartown Lofts lists Donald Morway, who has a current valid construction supervisor’s license. Under state law, there is no requirement for a licensed construction supervisor to be present on the site. On the Edgartown Lofts project, as spelled out in state regulations, a licensed, registered architect or engineer or designee is required to fill that role, because the project exceeds 35,000 cubic feet.
Robert M. Shaw Jr., is the architect of record on the project, responsible for construction control. Although his stamp appears on the building permit, Mr. Rolando’s name appears on the construction control reports. Mr. Shaw is not listed among those present during inspections in March and April.
The Gazette has since learned that Mr. Rolando’s license to practice architecture has been suspended in Massachusetts.
“I have several registered architects who work for me, who worked on the project,” Mr. Rolando said in by phone Thursday. “That’s how we’ve been practicing for a number of years, which is certainly within the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
He said he has chosen not to renew his license, in part because of the expense, and in part because it’s easier to retain someone within the state as the architect of record.
According to Massachusetts records, Mr. Rolando’s “license has had disciplinary action taken,” but does not detail the action.
“It’s so complicated,” Mr. Rolando said. “I’ve explained it the best I can. The building hasn’t fallen down, no one’s gotten hurt.”
In a telephone interview with the Gazette Thursday, Mr. Hajjar said he was not aware of Mr. Rolando’s suspended license status until recently. He said Mr. Rolando employs a licensed architect, the architect of record for the Edgartown Lofts project. “That’s why he works for somebody else who is the architect,” Mr. Hajjar said. “I believe a lot of architects work under somebody else’s stamp.”
Speaking to the Gazette by telephone this week, Mr. Erez said his own arrangement on the job site is not unusual. “A lot of general contractors do not really need to have a supervisor’s license, as long as he employs a partner that does,” he said. “That’s pretty common.”
Mr. Erez has supervised numerous other building projects on Martha’s Vineyard, though most were much smaller, single-family-home projects.
He said Edgartown Lofts has not been an easy project, and some of the discrepancies noted in the control progress reports were the result of trying to stop leaks.
“Some things were noted such as we didn’t do sheetrock on the walls because we were basically trying to close the building up to the best of our abilities to limit the water intrusion,” he said. “Some of the things that we rectified since, we did for that purpose. We just had too much rain coming in. We were putting plywood on before installing sheetrock, which we knew we needed to, because time wise, it was not feasible. The sheetrock would have gotten wet anyway. The majority of those issues have been addressed.”
Edgartown building inspector Leonard Jason Jr. visited the site at the Triangle numerous times this year. The post office had been closed temporarily twice in March before Mr. Jason finally advised postal officials to close the branch April 1. By that time, the bank branch had already been closed. Water had also leaked into the basement of the building, soaking legal records stored by Ronald H. Rappaport, an Edgartown attorney who serves as town counsel for five of the six Island towns. Mr. Rappaport had rented the basement space for storage.
Mr. Jason said no town bylaw or state regulation gives him the authority to impose fines or otherwise sanction the builder in this case.
“There’s none that I’m aware of,” Mr. Jason said, also noting that the town could be sued in the event that a stop-work order was issued. “I tell them to stop, is the town liable for the damage incurred?” he said.
Meanwhile, Edgartown town administrator Pam Dolby said this week that the post office is on track for the June 1 reopening. Renovation work on the building has involved tearing out most of the walls, ceilings, and floors, which were damaged by water.
Postal officials inspected the work last week, looking for any mold issues.
“They found none and gave the construction crew the go ahead to start putting the interior walls back up,” said U.S. post office spokesman Steve Doherty. “There is no timetable set for completion at this time, however all parties are working to get the facility reopened in the shortest time frame possible.”
Mr. Hajjar said he continues to back his contractor and has no plan to make a change. “I believe that would only lead to delays,” he said. “Since the incident, they’ve put a lot of man hours into making things right.”
Comments
“It’s so complicated,” Mr.
deshandra brown mv“It’s so complicated,” Mr. Rolando said. “I’ve explained it the best I can. The building hasn’t fallen down, no one’s gotten hurt.” -
"YET". thanks for the comforting words
Sounds like business as usual
Huh? EdgartownSounds like business as usual with just about any project on MV. On the plus side though all that poor work generally comes with an absurdly high price.
Huh? I am not sticking up for
Too quick to judge VHHuh? I am not sticking up for the way this project is being run, nor the guys running it. Yes contractors do have others pull permits for them. It's a practice that is legal but I feel unfair for those of us that study and work hard to excel in our profession. I don't think it is all that fair to Huh? kinda places all island contractors in the same bag as this outfit.
It's not all, but it's a lot
Huh? EdgartownIt's not all, but it's a lot of them. In the last 20 years it has become almost impossible to find good contractors. Getting them to show up, return phone calls, do the work per code is a struggle. There's also not a lot of careful inspections going on. Are there some that do good work and show up? Of course, but I'd say they're becoming a smaller and smaller minority. There are some real hacks pretending to be GCs, electricians, flooring, plumbers, etc. Anyone that owns a property on this Island and has tried to get anything done isn't really surprised at what happened at the Post Office...it's the norm.
So now we have a contractor
brown wren edgartownSo now we have a contractor without a license, an architect without a license, a building inspector asleep on the bench in front of town hall, a town counsel storing some documents below the devastation of this very particular building (!) (Were any of those ours?)
Time to bring back the stocks, right in front of the temporary post office.
Mr. Hajjar can apologize from his 14,000 sq. vacation house as much as he wants, and the rest of the pack can jabber away ad infinitum. The whole pcrowd have made life miserable for hundreds of people.
The Planning Board, the Building Inspector, the Selectmen(curiously cancelling their meetings two weeks in a row) and the whole pack of "investors" in affordable housing should start thinking about how to make amends to the real citizens of Edgartown -- you know the ones who have to hike in from the vicinity of the Harbor View and guess at times when mail might be available. How about a big chunk of change from Hajjar and Erez to the Boys and Girls Club, the Animal Shelter, etc. Don't be shy fellas. Feel free to step up to the plate. You haven't exactly made yourselves feel warm and cuddly so far.
.
The poor things, walking a
Sara Piazza EdgartownThe poor things, walking a few blocks from the Harborview. For a few weeks. We who live in town - and beyond, on Chappy - (and contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of us left who both live and work downtown) - have been hoofing it the half-mile or more to the Triangle on a regular basis for about a decade now (and you're welcome for the parking spaces we are freeing up for you). The great thing about this so-called catastrophe is it's given us a small glimpse of what life used to be like when our town was an actual town. Seeing people we haven't seen for years walking through town; getting eye contact, smiling, stopping to chat. And what a pleasure it's been using the temporary post office. The line has been short - to non-existent - at least the times I've been there, and the service has been personal and pleasurable. Meeting friends face to face and chatting while our children play in the grass. Lots of people are also telling me they are enjoying it too. This whole thing has caused my brain to go wild with fantasies. What if Edgartown decided to return - permanently - its post office to the downtown? A real post office with full service. The main post office (put the little sub-station on the outskirts). Then what if someone was brave enough to open an actual grocery store downtown? A real grocery store (put the convenience store on the outskirts). What if we stopped catering to the almighty automobile? I mean, it has to stop at some point because ideas such as moving grocery stores and other vital services farther out of town is just a shell game. Not only does it simply move the traffic problem to a new location, but it also ensures that the in-town dwellers who once were able to walk for groceries and mail would then have to get in their cars also (one of the details that was overlooked when the Triangle post office was created). The truth is, the only way to solve traffic problems is to get people out of their cars. It's time for people to realize that they can't drive to every location on this Island they would like, especially in the summer. Let's think outside of the box a little. What if there were parking facilities in all three entries into town (there are already two) so that people could walk the rest of the way (I already park on the outskirts of VH and OB and walk the rest of the way during the summer)? In this day and age when everybody's concerned about the environment and carbon footprint (and paying money to join a gym that they drive to), I'd think everybody would be on board with this. Besides, I keep saying - eliminating traffic is an unsolvable riddle because everybody wants to eliminate traffic so they can drive unencumbered. And if everyone is driving unencumbered…umm…well… Yes, one person has already deridingly called me a "voice in the wilderness." (a euphemism for "fool," of course) And yes, It's a truly radical and seemingly ridiculous idea - but enough people have agreed with me about loving the post office being back in town that it makes me wonder: What if? Let the flaming begin. I'll see you downtown.
Wonderful idea, IF we
Jane HurstWonderful idea, IF we accommodate parking for people with disabilities who otherwise would not be able to go to these "walking only" places.
Jane Hurst(For some reason
Sara Piazza EdgartownJane Hurst(For some reason there's no option to reply directly to your comment) - accommodating people who can't manage the walk - that goes without saying. Handicapped spaces, for starters, along with a small (quiet) electric trolley to transport people with special needs. Everywhere I go, people tell me they love having the post office back in town along with the life it's brought back. Reclaim Our Town.
Sara, I more of less agree
ECS edgartownSara, I more of less agree with your comments on the autos but can you tell me what you do for a living on MV?
"ECS" - who are you and why
Sara Piazza Edgartown"ECS" - who are you and why do you ask?
That is a very inappropriate,
Michael Sullivan Oak BluffsThat is a very inappropriate, unnecessary comment to make about the building inspector being asleep on the bench in front of town hall. Lenny Jason is a supremely qualified and competent building inspector and we are very lucky to have him. Would you rather he have shut the whole job down when the water damage started happening and let more damage occur? How do you think that would go over? Where are the bank and post office supposed to go and when would they re-open if he did that? What would you propose that he should have done? For a guy who is the building inspector of two towns in a ridiculously busy year of building, for you to claim that he is sleeping on the job is incredibly unfair. Blame the owner, blame the architect, and blame the builder for a poorly planned and poorly executed project. To blame the building inspector for any of this mess is incredibly unfair. Tell me what you would do if you were in his position please??
Agreed, Mr. Sullivan. I see
Mr. B ChilmarkAgreed, Mr. Sullivan. I see no egg on Mr. Jason 's face.
Mr. Jason is a fair and by
paul iantosca needham maMr. Jason is a fair and by the book inspector who goes out of his way to assist in the complicated process of building, however, he does not miss a beat nor does he skip inspections. The reason that all of the shorty materials were discovered was because Lenny Jason calls it like it is. He should be commended for requiring all of the faulty materials and workmanship to be corrected. You are fortunate to have such an intelligent and competent building inspector.
sleezey people all.
ecs edgartownsleezey people all.
a 4 year old boys birthday
Evan Edgartowna 4 year old boys birthday party was ruined, my check sent out was not cashed by my oil company because it wasn't mailed out by Edgartown SMH !!!!
does anyone on this damn island take pride in their work ??
I guess builders are like forget it i'm riding around in my 2016 making money it's someone else problem now SMH !!
Ironically, these are the
Wow Oak BluffsIronically, these are the type of builders/architects that give others a bad name. These are rookie mistakes. The Island is filled with great professionals that would never make these errors. Shocking.
Questions:
Dianne Smith Chilmark (Edgartown for 40 years prior)Questions:
(1) Postal officials inspect mail, not buildings. Did a certified mold inspector accompany those postal officials last week?
(2) If Mr. Jason has no authority to impose fines or sanctions "in this case," who does? Is it the Edgartown Planning Board, Selectmen, or perhaps the MV Commission?
(3) If no one has the authority to enforce regulations, why on earth do we have any? This makes a mockery of the countless hours and efforts our communities have put into creating ostensible safeguards for the Vineyard's land and people.
(4) Ah, but why should we be concerned? "Charles Hajjar, the commercial real estate developer who owns the building, said, 'There is no significant damage to the building. Nothing that can’t be fixed in a day or two. It’s not a disaster in there, some drips coming through." (Vineyard Gazette, April 4, 2016)
P.S. Brown Wren, the "Edgartown Lofts" project is not now, and never has been, "affordable housing." That was an initial ploy, later retracted by Mr. Hajjar's attorney, to secure local support for "market-rate" housing. It worked, didn't it?
Diane, well said and great
Ali EdgartownDiane, well said and great questions.
I take care of a house and it was full of ALL kinds of mold,
the company that removed it (19 HUGE trash bags) wore
hazmat suits, I'm wondering who is inspecting this for the town,
hopefully a reliable company & not one of Mr. Hajjars 'cronies'!!
Oops: meant to include the
Dianne Again ChilmarkOops: meant to include the Town Administrator and Town Counsel in my Question #2. Citizens need to know the process by which any possible remedial action might be taken. Pursuant to Massachusetts state law, for example, could the building inspector request a board of survey be convened to make recommendations as to a course of action for the site? There has long been "island talk" re the quality of initial construction at Brandy Harrison's "Four Flags." Silk purses and sows' ears come to mind... Or should that be "a pig in a poke," Mr. Hajjar?
After reading about the 'all
Ed Spalding EdgartownAfter reading about the 'all clear' to continue construction I had the exact same thoughts on the mold issue. Agree with the balance of your comments too.
I really doubt Charles Hajjar
J. T. M. The VineyardI really doubt Charles Hajjar used these clowns on his 14,000 square foot 1%ers Summer seasonal getaway for their friends abutting the Farm Neck Golf Club, a home they would enjoy for decades—?whether for family dinners and lazy August days or glamorous *fêtes*.
With such a interesting article about him and his wife in the BOSTON COMMON Magazine May 20, 2013 ~ Home Tour: A Martha's Vineyard Manse...... One would think he would take a little pride in his side hobbies to fund those summer glamorous *fêtes*.
Will be following this one closely to see what all the disgruntled Edgartowners will actually do about this instead of just bitching!
A wow again...an unbelievable
Resident EdgartownA wow again...an unbelievable sham in Edgartown?? Couldn't be!! OMG...where is the "beloved" building inspector when he's "supposed" to be doing his JOB?? Where is the Town Administrator, who was soooo praised for setting up the PO at the old library....are you kidding?? And, the Selectmen?? ALL who either have businesses or relatives or whatever in the town, which leaves their hands tied?? Another sham of "good ole boy" shenanigans...and NO ONE dares to contest the powers that be for fear of being run out of town!! Stop the madness!! This is all unbelievable from the owner, the builder, the architect and on and on and on. Wake up residents!! Your town is being bought, greased and they think we're all stupid!
Thank you Gazette for giving
Edg. Box Holder EdgartownThank you Gazette for giving the community and postal and bank users an update on this atrocity that not only affects Edgartown residents but will ripple into affecting our tourist industry and the character of our whole island if the "NEW PRECEDENT" as is now being set becomes, " all building and safety codes are now thrown out the window, build how and whatever you want, no questions asked and no penalties or fines". No one wants that. PLEASE PUT A STOP TO THE CONSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY and force the use of their original approved building plans of using the existing structure/roof line and adding dormers, following all safety protocol. If this is not done, all building permits as of now will be meaningless. It was stated that "postal officials inspected the work last week, looking for any MOLD ISSUES. They found none...". I am not aware that "postal inspectors" are also certified, licensed, bonded and trained up to the EPA standards and are members in the NAMRI (National Association of Mold Inspectors and Remediators). Professionally trained and licensed mold remediates don't "look for mold" they test for it. I will ask again that the TEST RESULTS BE MADE PUBLIC, perhaps published in the Gazette, as I believe we who are among hundred of thousands who will be walking into these commercial establishments have a right to know that our health and safety is being considered. P.S. Sadly these are NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, they are being built as prime real estate with no restrictions in renting or selling and as we now see, constructing. Thank you.
one of the worst POs in the
egtwn box holder 2 edgartownone of the worst POs in the US with THE worst staff now has an excuse !!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Vineyard Gazette.
Gail farrish EdgartownThank you Vineyard Gazette. Please keep reporting on this mammoth debacle. All of us voters should remember this travesty when we go to vote for our next officials. It was a project that never should have been allowed to begin with. Boy, everyone seems to pass the blame! Let's show our strength to take back our town.
I question who will be
Lynne Macomber Edgartown resident and box holderI question who will be assuring that these affordable year-round Apartments are just that?
Sadly, not a soul, Lynn. Not
Dianne Again ChilmarkSadly, not a soul, Lynn. Not a soul. As I mentioned in an earlier email, the "Edgartown Lofts" project is not now, and never has been, "affordable housing." That was an initial ploy, later retracted by Mr. Hajjar's attorney, Sean Murphy, to secure local support for "market-rate" housing. It worked, didn't it?
Wow..talk about egregious.
Jeanne BG WR & OBWow..talk about egregious. What is it with people who think safety and well constructed for PUBLIC buildings, never mind homes. I work for a reputable LICENSED reconstruction construction company where our principles are licensed, the entire crew attends continuing ed, safety for all is primary, and flawless work is expected 100%, whether your role is in the field, the shop or the office.
Mr. Erez's claim that "A lot
Not the Standard EdgartownMr. Erez's claim that "A lot of general contractors do not really need to have a supervisor’s license, as long as he employs a partner that does,” he said. “That’s pretty common.” Frankly, this is just not true. The point of having a CSL is to know the building codes that are supposed to be enforced in every project. In addition, it is not common. I would never knowingly contract with a person that is NOT even the responsible one in the company. Very troubling there is so much incompetence associated with this project.
Spot on comment IMO… Mr.
gina menemsha/nycSpot on comment IMO… Mr. Erez's claim is so far correct since the current construction project appears loaded with the "unenforceable" Edgartown building codes.. Sure glad the town has all those codes rules & regs. that clearly apply to other building projects..
The usual clusterpuck. Now
Robert EdgartownThe usual clusterpuck. Now with the expanded historical district let's add another level of ineffective oversight and intrusion. More people to point the proverbial finger at as they dodge responsibility. I agree with Sara... walk, bike or how about the VTA? Leave your cars in the driveway or garage, why add to the Tritangle gridlock?
Seems to me like a perfect
Mike EdgartownSeems to me like a perfect case of the inmates running the asylum.
According to Ma.Gen. Laws,
Flyboy42 EdgartownAccording to Ma.Gen. Laws, chapter 143, the building inspector the fire inspector, or the health inspector all have the legal right and authority to issue a cease and desist.
Who has the right to FINE Mr.
Dianne Again ChilmarkWho has the right to FINE Mr. Hajjar, big-time?
Have you been harmed? Have
William edgartownHave you been harmed? Have you spent extra time waiting for your mail? Have you needed to travel out of your way for the mail? Have you not received bills in a timely fashion. Have you not received payments in a timely fashion?
The town may not have the ability to penalize (I find this absurd) but those affected by the above questions do. Sue charles Hajjar..
A "cease and desist" order
Dianne Again ChilmarkA "cease and desist" order would not have made sense when the the interior was exposed to the elements. It could now, if a certified mold inspector has not yet inspected the site. Depending upon those findings and any others discovered in a thorough review of the "repair" work done since April 1, the building inspector could, per the MGL, request that a board of survey be convened to make recommendations as to a more significant course of action for the site - e.g., a complete re-build by a qualified contractor. P.S. I cannot help but note that this incident occurred on April Fool's Day, but there were countless prior infractions. How long will the "powers that be" make fools of us all?
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