168 BRIDGE STREET UNIT BASEMENT MEMO IN REGARDS TO ILLEGAL DWELLING UNIT 6-27-2023 CITY OF SALEM MASSACHUSETTS
BOARD OF HEALTH
98 WASHINGTON STREET 3RD FLOOR Pub&Health
7 Prevent.?romote.Protect.
TEL. (978) 741-1800
DOMINICK PANGALLO health@salem.com
DAVID GREENBAUM,RS
MAYOR HEALTH AGENT
June 27, 2023
Lina Londono Illencik
168 Bridge Street Unit Basement
Salem, MA 01970
Dear Madam,
On June 20, 2023 an inspector from the Salem Board of Health, Jeffrey Barosy,
accompanied an inspector from the City of Salem's Building Department, Greg
Salamida, for an inspection of an illegal dwelling unit in the basement of 168 Bridge
Street. This inspection was conducted at the request of the occupant, Lina Londono
Illencik, through her lawyer, Michael O'Keefe.
During the inspection, the inspector from the Salem Board of Health observed several
violations of the State Sanitary Code Chapter Il: Minimum Standards of Fitness for
Human Habitation (referred to as the housing code from this point on). Some of these
violations include excess moisture in the walls and ceiling, lack of kitchen facilities, lack
of a vent to the outside in the bathroom, and a bedroom without a window.
Normally, after housing code violations are found within a dwelling unit the Salem Board
of Health would issue an order letter demanding the owner of the dwelling unit to correct
the violations observed along with a list of the violations. However, the Salem Board of
Health will not issue an order letter for this case for the following reasons:
1. On July 29, 2021 the inspector from the Salem Board of Health issued an order
letter with the same observed violations to the owners of the dwelling unit. This
was before the dwelling unit was declared an illegal department.
2. On January 24, 2022 the City's Building Department declared this dwelling unit
an illegal apartment and ordered the owner to have it dismantled.
3. Because of the City's Building Department's January 24, 2022 order, if the owner
of the dwelling unit made all the corrections in the Salem Board of Health's order
letter, the dwelling unit would not be compliance with the housing code because
the dwelling unit is not supposed to exist. The Salem Board of Health issuing a
new order letter would imply the dwelling unit can be brought into compliance
when that is no longer an option.
The Salem Board of Health advises the occupant of this dwelling unit to find new
housing that is up to the minimal standards of the housing code for the benefit of her
own health and safety, and so the owners of this dwelling unit can comply with the City's
Building Department's order and dismantle the dwelling unit.
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