Ward 4 Councilor Chris Markiewicz recently shared this memo written by the Inspectional Services Commissioner, John Lojek, to the Mayor, regarding delays with the Turtle Lane project. In 2016, the City Council voted to approve a special permit request to preserve the existing theatre space, construct an addition to the existing building to be used for office space, and construct a new multi-family dwelling with 16 units. Many Auburndale residents have expressed concern about the project’s status, as the project appears to have come to a halt since October 2021.
In the memo, Commissioner Lojek focuses on the Residential Building and in recounting the history of the project and states, without providing specific examples, that work has been performed without first obtaining building permits, knowledge, or oversight by the Inspectional Services Department and in direct violation of the State Building Code. He refers to the installation of the modular units as being strictly regulated and that he and the Newton Fire Department determined that the structure is “unsafe in the case of fire.” With regard to the structure, Lojek states, “Even without full inspections, it is clear that the physical structure, as it currently exists, does not meet the requirements of the State Building Code and is not structurally sound,” and goes on to conclude the Residential Building was “incorrectly assembled.”
The Commissioner alludes to an upcoming meeting with City officials and the developer’s representatives and an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.
The developer and project applicant — Newton resident Stephen Vona — was not available for comment.