By Dave Wedge and Laurel Sweet
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — Mayor Thomas M. Menino trumpeted a new “problem property” task force in the wake of a massive 2010 warehouse blaze, but nearly two years later a Herald review found more than 200 firetraps across Boston — structures posted as too dangerous for firefighters to enter.
Among the decrepit buildings in Boston Fire Department records: · 12 Fairmount Court: A former chemical plant owned by the city, the Hyde Park building has exposed wiring, “hazmat contamination” and a potentially deadly “maze-like” layout.
· 131 Beverly St.: A massive, windowless building next to TD Garden on a dilapidated pier. The city cited the owner, Beverly Wharf LLC, for “unsafe and dangerous” conditions. Efforts to reach Ajax Partners, which manages the corporation, were unsuccessful.
· 166 Brooks St. and 106 Trenton St.: Two East Boston addresses, one full of pigeons and the other “deteriorating.” Landlord Martin E. Sher owes more than $5,000 in back taxes on the two properties. ‘I have not been a good citizen,’ Sher said. He declined to comment on his plans for the properties.
· 8 Enterprise St.: A vacant Dorchester building strewn with “trash and debris” owned by William L. Strigler, a South Boston resident who owes more than $17,000 in back taxes. Strigler said he plans to pay his taxes from a sale. “If you have no income coming in from the building, it’s hard to pay the taxes on a commercial property, because they’re so high,” he said.
Many properties on the BFD’s list remain in the same dilapidated condition they were in 18 months ago when Menino formed the task force after an August 2010 blaze on Norfolk Avenue. Another fire broke out two weeks ago at a nearby eyesore owned by the same landlord.
Menino spokeswoman Dot Joyce said the city pursues landlords in land court. “We have taken properties before but the process is long,” she said. “We will continue to pursue every legal option. ... However, we would rather have landlords do the right thing than for taxpayers to own the problem.”
Those options include citations, fines, liens and ultimately seizure. Of the properties mentioned above, only 106 Trenton St. has been referred to city lawyers for potential legal action so far, officials said.
The task force - made up of police, fire and city officials - met weekly, then issued a 10-page report six months ago. The task force inspected 133 buildings on BFD’s 2010 ‘posted’ list, issuing 73 citations. Joyce said the task force has not met since.
City Council President Stephen Murphy said he wants action: “The quicker we can get them back up and inhabitable or certainly out of a public safety danger, the better off for all of us.”
Shannon Shelton, a neighbor of the shuttered eyesore at 166 Brooks St., said, “It’s terrible. ... I wish I had the money to buy it.”
Deb Nemetz, who works next to 131 Beverly St., said, “You see that under the roof? I think it’s metal and it’s flapping. If that ever came off and flew off it could kill someone. I wouldn’t hang around here.”
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