Two small additions/corrections: there have been many more than two other posts. And "way too long" is true, but, while a year or so with little or not visible progress and, as mentioned, rarely any signs of work being done, would be way too long, this has been several years. Does the city not require reasonable progress after permits are issued and, if so, is the rate of progress on this work considered reasonable?

I may have placed the first complaint, in 2020 or 2021. I walk in the area daily and agree that the conditions have deteriorated. As of several days ago, the path under the scaffolding was blocked at the southern end by a loose piece of cloth. There is little apparent maintenance of the scaffolding conditions--and little to no work on the building. I agree: where is the accountability here?

City councilors have been notified and have been 'working' on this issue for the past 18-24 months. The scaffold was put up because parts of the building were falling off and creating a hazard for pedestrians. Now the scaffold is so old it is rotting in places and also creating a hazard, in addition to being an obstruction. Also they cut down a tree that was at least 7" in diameter (which means there should have been an opportunity for neighborhood input) that was part of the canopy at the end of Regent Street. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY--this landlord seems to be able to do whatever he wants to--when his permit ran out for a few months, he just had to renew it. NO PROBLEM, but then he doesn't live in the neighborhood.

It seems to me that, if pieces are falling off the building and the owner/ landlord is unable or unwilling to fix the problems in a timely way, the city should be considering condemning the building and fining or suing the landlord for sufficient funds to cover the expenses of tenants in the building relocating to some of the many vacant storefronts along the stretch of Mass Ave. in the Porter Square area.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via SeeClickFix. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

In the future, if you see this type of activity, we encourage you to call the Cambridge Police non-emergency number at 617-349-3300 and an available, nearby officer will be dispatched to the location. Tell us how we're doing by completing a short survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CambServiceRequests

I believe that the scaffolding is now (finally) down (and thanks to anyone who contributed to that) but what "type of activity" do you see that would justify calling the police or that would involve a rule that they can enforce?

I have to commend the City (finally) for the removal of the scaffolding. But is would be good to know the backstory from the City.

This was closed in error. One moment while we reopen and assign.

Reopening due to being closed in error

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via SeeClickFix. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

Many thanks for noting and correcting that error (and others like it). While, like DRGA, I'd be very interested in the backstory about what happened, why it took so long, etc., if that information can be shared but, with the scaffolding down, the longstanding core problem is apparently at an end.

This issue was recategorized from Other to Construction Complaint.

City of Cambridge assigned this issue to Public Works - KS (Community Relations)

Public Works - KS (Community Relations) assigned this issue to Inspectional Services - JL (Inspections)

The scaffolding was removed in February, soon after the completion of the façade work.

The scaffolding was originally installed after a piece of the façade fell onto the public way in March of 2021. Inspectional Services issued a citation to the building owner with an order to "undertake any and all actions necessary to correct" the violation of the MA State Building Code. The citation also contained an order to protect the pedestrian walkway.

Soon after the citation was issued, the building owner received Sidewalk Obstruction Permit and installed protective scaffolding. This obstruction permit remained active until February of 2024, when the scaffolding came down.

From March 2021 and February 2024, the façade repair and replacement work was stalled due to design changes, disputes between the contractor and design professional, and eventually, a change of contractor on the building permit. ISD and DPW maintained communication with the involved parties throughout this time period and also received complaints from members of the community.

At this point, the scaffolding is no longer in place, and the work is complete. A structural engineer issued a letter of conformance assuring that the façade was adequately repaired and is structurally sound. While we are not pleased with the amount of time it took, the scaffolding could not have been removed until this final letter of conformance was issued by a structural engineer.

For additional questions about this matter, please contact Inspectional Services at 617-349-6100.

Thanks for the detailed explanation of what happened. For at least some of us, confusion about what was going on and the long periods of silence and no apparent progress over those three years were almost as much of a problem as the scaffolding and sidewalk obstructions themselves.