Mayor defends recent closings

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Mayor defends recent closings

By G. Rheaume, Berkshire Eagle Staff

Pittsfield,MA

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/localnews/ci_3554031

Tuesday, February 28

NORTH ADAMS — Revealing color photographs of rusted doors, exposed

electrical wires and walls covered with mold, Mayor Barrett III

yesterday explained the city's decision to close Gringo's Restaurant

and North Cinema Six for " absolutely deplorable " violations of

health and building codes. City officials closed the restaurant and

the movie theater Friday.

Barrett described the building's owner, Starwood Ceruzzi LLC of

Fairfield, Conn., as a " slum landlord, nothing better. " The retail

development company purchased the 92,000-square-foot building in May

2004 for $2.5 million.

" We've been very patient with this, " Barrett said at a press

conference. " We just could not allow it to continue. ... We're not

going to put up with it. "

Beginning in December, he said, the city sent several violation

notices to the landlord and the business owner that indicated severe

water damage from the deteriorating roof and exposed high-voltage

wires. There also were problems with a collapsed portion of the roof

next to the building's electrical room, missing ceiling tiles and

poor lighting around the exits. Sections of the building's exterior

structure were decomposing and falling on the ground.

" The entire property's an embarrassment, " Barrett said. " We should

have enforced (the building codes) a long time ago. " Officials

recommended closing the businesses Jan. 30, but the mayor allowed

Gringo's and Cinema Six more time to complete the repairs.

Warnings, Barrett said, " continued to fall on deaf ears. " He added

that city officials had on-site meetings to discuss the code

violations, most recently on Feb. 22.

Health Inspector J. Serrano said there were health violations

in the restaurant, such as improperly stored food, along with mildew

and mold.

He described mold as " the new asbestos. "

According to the National Center for Environmental Health, exposure

to molds can cause a number of health effects. For some people,

molds might cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or

wheezing, and eye or skin irritation. People with mold allergies

could have more severe reactions.

Both Gringo's and North Cinema Six will remain closed until

the landlord repairs the building violations. If improvements to the

building started today, Barrett said, the businesses probably could

reopen for the weekend.

Berkshire Fabric & Wallpaper Outlet had a few minor violations that

must be corrected soon, including a leaking ceiling in the back of

the store, but the business remains open. " There were a few issues, "

Barrett said. " We're confident that they will be compliant shortly. "

Building Inspector E. Meranti said the city has the

authority to close both businesses and to turn off the electricity

until the required repairs have been completed.

Telephone calls to , the owner of Gringo's Restaurant,

and to Filoh, a spokesman for Starwood Ceruzzi, were not

returned.

Starwood Ceruzzi, formerly known as Ceruzzi Properties, has

developed 4 million square feet of retail shopping centers in the

Northeast since 1988. These retailers include Home Depot, Target,

Stop & Shop, & Noble, Borders Books, the Gap and Old Navy.