11 Northey Street -retaining wall ltr CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
0 BUILDING DEPARTMENT
98 WASHINGTON STREET,2-° FLOOR
TEL. (978) 745-9595
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
MAYOR THOMAS ST.PIERRE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROPERTY/BUIIAING COMMISSIONER
May 2,2022
Edward Purtz
Julie Lufkin
11 Northey Street
Salem Ma. 01970
Re. Retaining wall
Dear Owners,
I did a site visit last week at your property due to concerns voiced by your abutters. It was clear that you
constructed a makeshift retaining wall to the rear of your property on top of an existing fieldstone retaining
wall.
Massachusetts Building Code,780 CMR, requires a permit for walls over four feet measured from footing to
top of wall. The wall constructed is at least six or seven feet tall and constructed of random pieces of wood.
This wall on top of the existing fieldstone wall is a danger to anyone below.
Therefore, you are directed to hire a Professional Engineer to design a safe wall and to secure a Building permit
to construct a proper wall.
This is assuming you comply with the Engineering Departments directive to obtain a drainage alteration plan to
address the grade change of your property. Failure to secure a licensed Engineer within ten days of this notice
will result in daily fines and further enforcement actions.
If you feel you are aggrieved by this order, your Appeal is to the Board of Buildings, Regulations and Standards
in Boston.
If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Thomas St.Pierre