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Nick
I hope you will take the time to interview someone in the city who this issue has effected financially such as a private developer or a young couple or single person looking to substantially rehab one of the very old three Deckers in Worcester.
Couple the sprinkler cost with all the other fire codes and the lead paint law and it has pretty much made it financially irresponsible for most to buy a three decker and rehab it like is being done in Boston and other “cool” urban communities today……the cost for a sprinkler system is any where from 20 to 30k…..in Greater Boston where rents and and sales are not stagnant like Central Mass it is possible to recoup ones investment within a reasonable period of time but in Central Mass where rents and sales have been stagnant it is not a great investment for an investor and for many couples and single people it is a huge barrier to doing a proper rehab of these great old dames.
I am speaking of a proper rehab….gutting the entire building and starting over including HVAC systems and basement renivation like we are doing in Greater Boston and ensuring these buildings will last another 100 years….creating units the baby boomers and middle and up are downsizing in to.
To just call this greed by Billy Breault is irresponsible. He hasnt to my knowledge ever rehabbed an old building nor has he bought a house in the community. If he had or did he may understand the incredible financial undertaking it is for most of us.
I have installed a sprinkler system at 214 Austin Street recently (see attached pic of house in green, yellow and orange) I am going to follow this up with some pics of some of the projects I have done that are examples of the three decker housing rehab I am talking about. I understand there are folks buying but for the most.part they are doing cosmetic work….a huge majority of these three deckers in the city need total guts and that is where this sprinkler law kicks in.
Cheers
Paul Collyer
