City Board of Public Works updated on The Pointe

Last month, members of the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety were updated on the process of making the required improvements to The Pointe Apartments at 309 Gibson Street. 

City Attorney Jeff Houin presented the Unsafe Building Waiver request. He gave some background on the cause, saying, “On July 15 of 2024, the Building Commissioner issued an order to take action on the building at 309 Gibson. On July 29 an emergency order was issued to vacate the building for issues discovered in the building.”

The Building Commissioner issued a violation of those orders, and a subsequent fine of $2,500 for each order was imposed. 

During the Feb. 27 city meeting, Pointe Property Manager Anthony Collins asked the board to consider waiving the $5000 fine. The city attorney recommended removing the $2,500 fine for violation of the emergency order since it didn’t reference the statute that allows for the issuance of the fine. The city attorney suggested reducing the total fine to $2,500. 

Building owner Bob Richards and his property manager were ordered on July 15 to make repairs within 60 days, but the work was not completed.      

The Property Manager told the Board of Public Works and Safety that the work is done. He detailed the work completed, including a new roof, all new furnaces, lights, plumbing, exit signs, and new fire sprinkler heads installed. Collins said he is just waiting for the carpet cleaner to show up and the fire alarm technician to set up the pull-handle alarms.    

Collins said Richards spent approximately $250,000 to make the required repairs.

Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal said the sprinkler system must be pressure tested before an occupancy permit can be issued. He also wanted a registered electrical contractor to look at the repairs. Manuwal said a mold test was also suggested since black mold was found in the building prior to repairs.

When Mayor Listenberger asked Collins if it was ready to move in, Collins said the fire alarms had to be put back up and the system pressurized. He continued, “It’s not the Hilton. I mean, it’s way better than the Red Rock and the Economy Inn. Some of the paint and drywall could look better.”    

Manuwal hasn’t been in the building since November and said he would complete an inspection and report back to the Board of Public Works and Safety at their next meeting on March 10. 

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously voted to suspend the fine imposed by the building commissioner and gave Collins until Feb. 27 to complete the work and finalize the inspections, pending the Building Commissioner's reinvestigation and what he finds.