NHFD
Hours after being publicly christened New Haven’s new top building official, Jim Turcio headed out to Cedar Hill — to decide whether to condemn a portion of a building.
The roof collapsed on a portion of the building, at 116 Welton St., between 3 and 3:30 p.m.Wednesday, according to Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Marcarelli.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and shut the gas off to the portion of the building.
“It was probably a combination of the snow and neglect” that caused the collapse, Marcarelli said. That portion of the building was vacant; the collapse did not appear to affect an adjacent part of the building, which houses the Thompson-Allen Pipe Organ Repair company, Marcarelli said.
The 9,150-square-foot building was constructed in 1956, according to land records.
Turcio arrived on the scene, too. He ordered the portion of the building condemned. He had a sign posted declaring it unsafe for human occupancy.
“They have an option to either repair it or take it down,” he said.
Paul Bass Photo
Earlier Wednesday, Mayor Toni Harp introduced Turcio as the city’s new building official, at a City Hall press conference. Turcio, who’s 55, has worked in various city inspection and zoning positions for 18 years. He said he has worked in the construction field for 30 years. He formally began filling the $103,372.45-a-year building official post on Feb. 23, replacing Acting Building Official Daniel O’Neil, who moves down to a deputy post. Turcio will be responsible for city buildings meeting electrical, wiring, and mechanical codes. He posed (second from left above) at the press conference with Mayor Harp, at left, and his building department staff.
