By Pete Mazzaccaro

Post updated on May 4 to reflect city stop work order

Hill residents who live near 9007 Crefeld Street noticed recently that new construction on the property continued despite clear orders from the city to stop all construction on March 27. Neighbors raised concerns about the project at a meeting of the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Development Review Committee, which took place via Zoom last week.

The property was purchased by Juniper Development Group in August 2018. The developers secured a building permit for a two-story, detached, single-family home in November of last year, but no construction on the site should have taken place after March 27.

Yet work continued at the site while the work ban was in place.

Deana Gamble, Communications Director Office of the Mayor, told the Local that the city had no record of a waiver from the state.

As a result, Licenses and Inspections issued a stop work order at the site on April 23. That order is still in place despite the fact that construction was allowed to resume on May 1.

Karen Guss, Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Department of Licenses and Inspections told the local that work on the site would only resume after the developers applied to reopen it with the city.

Gamble said anyone who sees construction should contact the city.

“The City encourages people who are witnessing the construction, to report the construction to 311 so that L&I staff can react appropriately,” she said.

As of May 1, construction was be allowed to continue in the state. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said last week that residential construction could once again resume on Friday, May 1, however, any ongoing construction would have to adhere to strict guidelines. Those include:

• All people at a worksite must wear masks unless they are unable due to medical or safety reasons.
• Protocols must be in place for any worker who might or is confirmed to have COVID-19.
• All workers must maintain proper social distancing and each site must have hand washing and sanitizing stations for workers.
• Each work site must have a “pandemic safety officer.”
• Residential construction projects cannot have more than four individuals on the job site at any time.

Pete Mazzaccaro can be reached at pete@chestnuthilllocal.com