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Lawrence Avenue Apartment owner was too optimistic about February rehab

Posted 3/17/19

BY CRAIG FREILICH North Country This Week POTSDAM – The regional property manager of Lawrence Avenue Apartments was too optimistic when he said in early February some of the 49 tenants of …

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Lawrence Avenue Apartment owner was too optimistic about February rehab

Posted

BY CRAIG FREILICH

North Country This Week

POTSDAM – The regional property manager of Lawrence Avenue Apartments was too optimistic when he said in early February some of the 49 tenants of fire-damaged Building F might be able to move back by now.

As it turns out, it could take months longer.

Martin Chason, who oversees the apartment complex for Buffalo-based Chason Companies, says reconstruction he had hoped to complete by now hasn’t even started because the precise cause of the fire hasn’t been reported by investigators.

The 18 families evacuated from Building F all have temporary housing.

Chason says he can’t start repairs and renovations until he receives a written report from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control indicating the cause of the blaze.

Fire investigators have ruled the fire was accidental and started in a bathroom fan. But they have not yet said why the fire started.

Chason originally predicted some tenants could move back in early March “if everything goes perfectly.” But it didn’t.

“We need a conclusive answer, a written state report, but I can’t push the investigation or the insurance companies any farther than I already am,” Chason said.

He said they did get a verbal report on the origin of the fire, “an exhaust fan failed,” and the nature of the fire, “classified as accidental,” but not the specific cause. For example, did the fan fail because it was faulty or was it because of a lack of maintenance or inadequate installation?

“I was optimistic at the time. That’s what we were shooting for,” Chason said last week.

“It’s taking longer than anyone wants it to take.”

He said he’s never seen a fire investigation take so long, but a spokesman for the state investigators said it’s not unusual for a report to take months to compile, review and release.

But a spokesman for the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which includes fire investigators, said a verbal report is usually enough to get repair work started.

“OFPC (Office of Fire Prevention and Control) fire investigation reports are not required to begin the rebuilding process. OFPC assists fire departments and local and county investigators when requested. These reports take several months to complete due to their size and level of detail,” said spokesman Colin Brennan in an email message.

“These reports are not created for the purpose of facilitating discussions between property owners and their insurance companies,” Brennan said, though that appears to be a significant use of those reports.

“We’re worried of course about getting people into permanent housing,” Chason said.

He says he has architects, engineers and builders lined up for when the insurers and code enforcement officers give the green light.