ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown could revive a stronger program for commercial building inspections this year after city officials shut down a complex with more than a dozen unregulated businesses.
The city once had an “abbreviated” program for inspecting commercial buildings, but it eventually “morphed into a complaint-based program” that the city still uses, according to Vicky Kistler, director of Allentown’s department of community and economic development.
City inspectors also examine commercial buildings after they are built or approved changes are made, but don't perform regular checks, she told Allentown City Council’s DCED committee Wednesday.
That means inspectors have no knowledge of unpermitted renovations or other serious issues until a complaint is lodged, as happened at Hamilton Business Center.
Dozens of small business owners have been locked out of their offices there since early December, when Allentown inspectors deemed the building an "immediate risk to human life.”
During “unannounced inspections,” city officials discovered “life-safety violations and suspected illegal occupancy, including residential units” in the five-story complex at 1101 W. Hamilton St.
Those inspectors were denied access to some areas of the building, which led the city to take the “extremely serious” step of getting an administrative search warrant for the building, Kistler said last year.
'Going to be a heavy lift'
A search warrant said city officials saw an “unlicensed laboratory with unknown substances” in the basement of the building, which has a day care on the first floor.
That search uncovered numerous unregistered units, improper sprinkler systems and blocked fire exits.
“Older structures or structures that have work done without permits could jeopardize life safety."Vicky Kistler, director of Allentown's department of community and economic development
Those unpermitted and unapproved changes create serious hazards, as people could be trapped inside the building if it ever caught fire, Kistler said.
Firefighters also could get trapped, as the building’s layout no longer matches the plans the city has on file.
Building owner Gordon Roberts told LehighValleyNews.com there are more than 90 tenants in the building, but city records show there should be about 70.
Switching to a system in which city employees perform “routine and systematic” commercial inspections is “going to be a heavy lift,” Kistler said.
But sending inspectors into commercial buildings every few years is the best way to ensure the safety of everyone who uses them, she said.
“Older structures or structures that have work done without permits could jeopardize life safety,” Kistler said.
