SOMERVILLE, MA — Concerns over construction quality and public safety at Somerville’s Clarendon Hill development have prompted residents, labor leaders, and former firefighters to demand the release of key safety and inspection records from the project’s developer and contractor.
At an event scheduled for Wednesday, July 30 at 11 a.m. outside Somerville City Hall, local advocates will call on the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Dellbrook Construction to publicly release documentation related to code compliance and inspection results for the project, which is currently under construction.
Organized by the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions (MBTU), the press conference will feature speakers including MBTU President Frank Callahan, retired Somerville firefighter Jay Colbert, and resident Marianne Walles. They allege poor construction practices and safety violations — including the use of unlicensed workers to install fire sprinklers — have compromised both the safety and integrity of the project.
“This is about the safety of Somerville residents and the quality of work being done,” said Callahan. “We can’t allow shoddy construction or corner-cutting that could endanger lives.”
Union representatives claim the documented issues could result in significant delays and additional costs to the City. They also argue that modular construction practices used on the project have undercut labor standards and public safety.
The Clarendon Hill redevelopment is intended to provide affordable housing to Somerville residents, but critics say that goal must not come at the expense of quality, worker protections, or public safety.
