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NEW BEDFORD — Two North End property owners are being held in contempt for failing to comply with court-ordered fire safety watches, part of the city’s broader push to crack down on fire safety risks in the neighborhood.
On Aug. 15, Southeast Housing Court Judge Donna Salvidio ordered that Edward McPherson, the owner of a former factory in the North End, be held at the Bristol County House of Corrections for failing to comply with a court-ordered fire safety watch on his properties. On Aug. 29, Judge Salvidio also found property owner Carlton Neves in contempt for failing to comply with a court-ordered fire watch at two buildings at 12 and 19 Coffin Ave.
McPherson, doing business as Proactive Philanthropy Inc., has been cited for numerous fire safety violations on his properties on King Street, once the site of Chamberlain Manufacturing, a munitions factory. Since 2022, city Fire Department inspectors have written up the nearly 1.7-million-square-foot buildings for nonfunctioning fire alarm systems and missing fire alarm and sprinkler tests.
According to housing court documents, the Fire Department responded to McPherson’s properties due to system issues 14 times in 2022 and 2023 before eventually ordering McPherson to maintain a 24/7 fire safety watch on the properties in March 2024.
“Every time we respond to these malfunction alarms it ties up (three) Fire Apparatus and a District Chief,” Lt. Kevin Pedro wrote in a report. “These resources could be used for other emergencies if needed.”
A fire safety watch requires the building owner to keep a full-time guard to inspect and monitor the properties so that a fire does not break out and damage neighboring buildings. In October 2024, city inspectors visited McPherson’s properties and found no watch taking place. Subsequent visits in April and May also found no one on watch.
In May, Judge Salvidio ordered McPherson to provide a plan on how to fund a professional fire watch or explore options on appointing a receiver to manage the professional fire watch at risk of getting fined or being sent to the Bristol County Jail. On Aug. 15, McPherson went to jail for failing to comply with court orders again. He was released on $8,000 bail, the city stated in a news release.
Neves, who owns two properties at the former Star Plating business, was also held in contempt of court for failing to install a fire safety watch after the city filed a complaint this June. The complaint highlighted multiple documented fire safety violations, including nonfunctioning sprinkler systems and improper storage of hazardous materials. Neves had also failed to board up the building until his fire safety violations were remedied, continuing to conduct business at the properties months after the court ordered him to cease operations.
Until Neves complies with the court order, the Fire Department will keep two firefighters on watch at the properties around the clock at Neves’ expense.
The two cases, although unrelated, come after the city’s attempts to ramp up fire code enforcement in the North End the past several years. In 2023, a deadly rooming house fire in the historic neighborhood caused the Fire Department to create the position of a high-risk inspector tasked with monitoring the properties most liable to create a public health risk.
“I am grateful for Judge Salvido’s willingness to hold these property owners accountable for failing to comply with basic fire safety requirements,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a news release announcing the orders. “The residents of both North End neighborhoods are safer today as a result of the court’s decision, and the diligent efforts of our fire department and solicitor’s office.”
Email Brooke Kushwaha at bkushwaha@newbedfordlight.org.
Thank you judge for doing the right thing, these buildings are a mess, and protecting fire fighters, anyone working in or around theses places, and city residents is important. But it is a real shame to see the old Chamberlain building so run down. With this property being located so close to the train, wouldn’t be a great place to renovate and build much needed housing with possible retail shops and parking on the lower floors (it’s a big building with multiple levels).
Would a previous munitions factory even be safe for human habitation?
It would cost a fortune to renovate it for apartments. Doubt it would pencil out in a stronger and more affluent market like Providence or even Boston.
Maybe it’s time to interview this Edward McPherson And see what his plans are with this seven story warehouse that is a fire hazard. Maybe it’s time to sell it or turn it into something that would be nice. I’d hate to lose the largest warehouse in New England that sits right here in New Bedford.
New Bedford needs to take these properties by eminent domain and give these neglectful owners nothing in return for keeping them run down. It needs to be e converted into low income housing so desperately needed in new Bedford
I agree with Pistol Pete; the City needs more low income housing and if I were the mayor I would make the owners fit the bill for all their years of neglect to the property! Again, probably people out of town or out of state being the owners just like the abandoned Chinese Buffet in the North End of New Bedford on Ashley Blvd. Mr. Mayor you have to stop outsiders from coming in and owning a place and not taking care of it… fines don’t work!!
If the spaces are salvageable, would probably be a great idea to make housing. Although they look like crap externally, if the bones are good, go for it. Other than that tear them down, Panagakos can redevelop them! Seriously!
The cost to convert these buildings is prohibitive. Bringing this complex into compliance with potentially Hazardous Waste requirements, building codes, energy codes, city site plan requirements would cost prohibitive.
Parrell Products, purchase the former My Bread Banking building a couple of years ago and compiled with the city’s Fire Watch requirements 24/7 for two years. Ouch! They are responsible folks.
Give us all a break, folks that want to destroy a neighborhood, developing a trash plant are not responsible people. New Bedford deserves better.
Very glad to see some justice FINALLY. These property owners put many others homes and lives at risk. Bravo!!!
It’s time to look into some 3 family buildings, rooming houses, grad houses and some non-federally funded shelters in our cities . They are not up to codes with fire, mold
and some have no hot water and no heat for months .