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Joined: Nov 2009
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We took over a business in a town in NJ with the purpose of opening up a non-profit organization that brings people from different nationalities together through the peaceful exchange of ideas, art and other recreation activities.
About a month after we began the town’s inspectors started to come by. The first was fire inspector who after a quick walk through the place only commented that the new fire sprinkler system that the previous tenant, (not the landlord) had installed needed to be completed with a dedicated water meter and pipe coming in from the street to feed it. This part of the work had already been initiated with the local water utility company when we took over and the fire inspector was aware of that. He mentioned that the utility company had up to 3 years to get this work done and that he was satisfied the process for the final hook up had begun. About a week later, the town’s building inspector came by and after his walk through he verbally listed about a dozen violations that needed to be fixed before we were allow re-open the place. He proceeded to let us know that we would receive the list of violations in the mail when his report was completed. On two occasions in the month of July, 2009 we asked for the written report without success. We proceeded to have contractors work on the alluded violations. The work was performed with all the local permits in place and the inspector was called back when all work was completed the first week in October, 2009. At this time, he cited us with additional violations and refused to issue the Certificate of Occupancy for the place. The repairs were small enough that my husband was able to complete them in one day; the following week the place was re- inspected and again the inspector refused to issue the Certificate of Occupancy on the grounds that the fire sprinkler system was not connected to the water. The fire inspector was called and he changed his previous decision.
Now we find ourselves tracking down a work order that has been in place since the beginning of the year with the water utility company and wondering if it is even worth to pursue this or count our losses now which are:
• 2 months revenue loss in the amount of $12,000.00 (conservative)
• Capital investment for repairs and other incidentals, (including building, plumbing, electrical permits) in the amount of $25,000.00
• Other future loss, (legal representation, delay opening, etc…), in the amount: TBD
We feel targeted or treated unfairly by local government, we have positively and willingly agreed with local inspectors to fix, repair or get rid of any “violations” in order to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy although never received a formal list of “violations“ or “citations” from the City and most of all we are afraid of what the inspectors will come up with next!
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patnoelle
11-03-2009 @ 2:40 PM