THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020 Page 5 Health and safety violations force residents out of North Shore Road home By Barbara Taormina T he Board of Health voted last week to issue a fi nding that the three-family house at 1510 North Shore Road is dangerous and occupants must vacant the property within 10 days. Peter Brown, the attorney who represents the city’s Inspectional Services Department and the Fire Department, requested the order and listed the property’s many safety and health violations, including a failure to install proper heating and electrical systems, exposed wiring, illegal plumbing, failure to maintain structural elements, and an illegal basement apartment, all of which were documented during four building inspections that were done over the past six years. Brown described the building as an illegal rooming house that has been deteriorating since the owner died in 2017, with no family or heirs to assume ownership of the property. “People have come in and taken over the property, a property that has been lost to the streets,” said Brown, adding that he thinks there may be dozens of people living in the house. But longtime occupants of 1510 North Shore Road, including families that live on the second and third fl oors, offered a diff erent picture of the property. They explained that they paid rent and lived in the building, which was undergoing some maintenance and repairs until the owner died. They said they waited for a new owner to take over, but no one ever came. Although they have not paid rent for several years, they said they pay for utilities and have done work on the building, which they acknowledge is in serious need of repair. A companion of the property owner stepped in after his death to manage his estate, including 1510 North Shore Road. But Brown said he thinks she abandoned that plan because of the property’s fi nancial condition. “There was a big reverse mortgage that sucked the equity out of the property,” he said, adding that more than $200,000 is now owed on the house. Brown said the bank disavowed the property for some time but resurfaced about four months ago, with foreclosure and auction plans. “We know there is a lot of interest in this property from local developers,” said Brown, adding that the city would like to work with a new owner to rehabilitate the property. Brown said a request for an order to vacate is only done in cases where the property is in such bad condition that the lives of the occupants, neighbors and fi rst responders who might answer an emergency call at the house are in jeopardy. The woman who lives on the second floor of 1510 North Shore Road acknowledged the house is dangerous. But she asked the board to extend the 10-day order to vacate to 30 days so she could keep her son in school while she looks for another place to live. But Brown told board members that the accelerated deadline would open the door to more resources that wouldn’t otherwise be available because the case would qualify as a super emergency. HEALTH | SEE PAGE 10 Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! BEAU GILBERT Saturday, March 14 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits from House to Techno DJ LOGIK Friday, March 13 at 9 PM MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters Book your next Function with us! Free Parking • Water Views Call 781-629-3798 SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING AMAZING WATER VIEWS Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma Enjoy the Acoustic Stylings of
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