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Date: 3/9/2022
CHICOPEE – After an arduous process in Zoning Committee meetings, the SilverBrick Mills, formerly known as the Cabotville Mill complex, is shutting down immediately as Mayor John Vieau cited “negligence” on behalf of property owner 4 Perkins LLC.
The city issued a letter ordering an immediate shutdown of operations to the complex’s tenants on March 1, placing the 165 Front St. building and the 55 businesses inhabiting it on a one-month 24/7 fire watch to evacuate their property. Businesses are expected to move completely out of the complex by the end of the month, according to Vieau.
Mayor’s Press Conference
Vieau, Ward 2 Councilor Shane Brooks, Ward 3 Councilor Delmarina Lopez, Ward 4 Councilor George Balakier, Fire Chief Daniel Samborski and acting Building Commissioner Frank Boron hosted a press conference on Feb. 28 to address decisions around the “structurally unsafe” complex.
Vieau explained the city’s immediate action regarding the building’s condition, stressing that the complex is in a condition that places tenants and visitors in an unsafe position. “We do care about our small business community, but we have to do what’s right to keep people safe,” said Vieau. The mayor shared that he, Samborski and Boron concluded that the location’s alarms and fire suppression systems are not up to code regulations.
“They are inadequate, deficient, not working properly and putting people in harm’s way. Frankly, that’s just not ok,” said Vieau, who shared that there are likely several other problems with the building. The mayor said the city underwent a process “for several months” to enforce accountability with the business owner.
Samborski shared his perspective on the shutdown as the Fire Department advised 4 Perkins LLC to fix the building’s deficiencies. “For several months we’ve been working with them to get the building up to code. We’re just not there yet and we’re concerned with life safety in that building. That’s why we’re at this pinnacle,” said Samborski.
The mayor also stressed that culpability for the building’s closure rests solely on the property owner. “It is their responsibility to provide safe tenant spaces for each tenant that is occupying the building. The city is not doing this, it is the negligence of the current owner,” said Vieau.
For the departing tenants, Vieau advised the businesses to utilize private legal assistance or reach out to the Hampden County Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Community Legal Aid. He also shared that businesses can also reach out to the Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director Julie Copoulos to discuss temporary or permanent relocation for the businesses in Lyman Mills. She can be contacted at 594-2101.
Zoning Committee
Prior to the mayor’s press conference, the Zoning Committee underwent lengthy discussions about the SilverBrick Mills property. During the committee’s Feb. 23 meeting, founder and Managing Principal of SilverBrick Aaron Papowitz addressed the committee after he was granted a 30-day extension during their Jan. 26 meeting to fix existing issues. Papowitz is seeking a special permit that would allow him to renovate the enterprise space.
In his address to the committee, Papowitz said he will follow the guidance of the city regarding the complex’s shutdown. “The departments sent us a letter detailing the items they want to see done. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure those happen,” said Papowitz.
The SilverBrick owner shared that the organization is trying to offer relocation spaces in one of their Holyoke locations, but admitted he is unaware of how many spaces are available. When asked by Ward 1 Councilor Joel McAuliffe if SilverBrick will cover moving costs, Papowitz said they are unsure about the complete costs.
“I think we can contribute something. I don’t want to just write a blank check; I don’t even know how much it would cost. I think we are willing to have that conversation and see if we can help, and in conjunction see if there is some way the state could help … I can’t commit to that right now, but I am willing to have that conversation” said Papowitz.
Associate City Solicitor Dan Garvey shared that SilverBrick and 4 Perkins LLC endured lengthy discussions about the property, ultimately concluding that shutting down the property is the only way for safety regulations to be met.
“After we had a number of discussions internally and with SilverBrick, it was determined that in order for 4 Perkins LLC to actually carry out the things that city felt needed to be accomplish to make it a safe and healthy building for it’s residents, the only way to do that is to vacate the building,” said Garvey.
Ward 3 Councilor and Zoning Committee member Delmarina López, who voted against the extension during the January meeting, stressed that there was not enough communication between SilverBrick, the tenants and the city before the evacuation process was announced.
“For business to vacate on an immediate notice knowing that this was coming down the pipeline and they weren’t notified about it is unfair … I get that thing need approval, but they should have been notified that this was coming and there should be some way to rectify that,” said López.
In the aftermath of the meeting, Ward 9 Councilor and Zoning Committee member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello spoke to Reminder Publishing about the SilverBrick Mills. Along with López, Pniak-Costello voted no on the initial extension for 4 Perkins LLC in January. “I felt that it just wasn’t safe … it’s just one issue after another that involves public safety and compliance with building codes,” said Pniak-Costello.
The councilor shared that Papowitz and the tenants met via Zoom during a Feb. 25 question and answer session. Reflecting on SilverBrick’s history, Pniak-Costello also detailed SilverBrick’s past experiences with a Springfield location. “Sarno was disappointed in SilverBrick. They had to stay on top of them,” said Pniak-Costello, referencing the 122 Chestnut St., Springfield, location.
Tenants Response
During the Feb. 23 Zoning Committee meeting, the affected tenants of SilverBrick Mills levied critiques against 4 Perkins LLC’s practices at the 165 Front St. location.
Leann Vera, a business tenant from Chicopee, shared that SilverBrick knew what the outstanding issues were when she moved into the space. “They absolutely knew that the building was not safe. When we signed our leases, everything was not in order,” said Vera. During her time at SilverBrick, Vera witnessed both bathroom spaces flooding in January with the results damaging two businesses neighboring the facilities.
Vera also stressed the substantial losses facing her and the other 54 business tenants in the space. “We’ve all invested a lot of money in our businesses … it’s a lot of loss we are going through. I have a full-time job, but some people don’t, and they depend on these businesses to take care of their families. Now, they are being stripped of it,” said Vera, who also said SilverBrick did not maintain communication with its tenants.
Jenna Medina, the co-owner of MamaRazzi Photography, said her business operated at the 165 Front St. location over the last 11 years. She revealed that tenants have been stuck in elevators, endured leaks in the stairwell and operated with an emergency exit being blocked off during her time as a tenant.
In regard to the evacuation notice, Medina shared that the decision shocked tenants. “We all feel really hit upside the head right now that SilverBrick had been notified 30 days ago that this was a thing. I wish that they said ‘the city is telling us to do this, this is what we’re doing’ … I kind of wish the city had reached out to us too,” said Medina, who shared she’s unsure if the building’s single freight elevator is in working conditions.
Kevin Bacon, a tenant from Southampton who ran his business for 13 years in the space, recognized SilverBrick as “awful as far as landlords go.” He argued that the sudden decision did not prepare businesses for the evacuation,
“The city should have been the ones looking out for us. I appreciate that the building is a danger and want to correct that, but if you guys have been discussing this internally for months and nobody came to us the tenants to say ‘Hey guys, just a heads up, you are in a dangerous building. You should probably look for somewhere else to be,’ are you kidding me,” questioned Bacon. Bacon said before the announcement, his business booked appointments for most of March.
In response to the tenant input, López stressed that she’s “appalled” with SilverBrick’s handling of its business center. “I believe there needs to be a better solution. They need to provide some help that is tangible other than a link,” said López. McAuliffe also said the businesses should consider past SilverBrick incidents where tenants undertook legal action.
City Council
After the Zoning Committee meeting, the City Council reviewed whether the business should be awarded their special permit request to work on renovating the location during their March 1 meeting. The issue generated divisive reactions from the council.
López and Pniak-Costello reiterated their stances from the zoning meetings, expressing their hopes for the permit to be denied. López also advocated for the city to do more to aid the impacted businesses. “As a city, we have in interest in supporting small businesses and there has to be more that we can do. It’s unacceptable,” said López.
The councilor also shared that Papowitz told the businesses to look for a “long-term solution” regarding leaving SilverBrick, stressing that the owner will not be putting in the work to renovate the space.
McAuliffe expressed that the special permit should be extended, but not in support of SilverBrick undergoing renovations. He explained that the special permit will allow SilverBrick to sell the property to another developer who can fix the building’s faults.
“I don’t think they’re in a situation where they [SilverBrick] independently can go through with this project with the state of the company as it is…We want someone to buy that property as soon as possible and turn it into a tax revenue opportunity,” said McAuliffe. The councilor said communication could have been better between each side, but also maintained that the city’s biggest faltering came with the initial decision to work with SilverBrick years ago.
“Communication could have been better, no question about that, but your bone to pick regrettably is with the landlord and the landlord entirely…A lot of bad things have happened with SilverBrick, they are a terrible company, they don’t follow through with their promises. It’s not only happened here in Chicopee, it’s happened elsewhere,” said McAuliffe.
After discussion, the council voted 8-5 to postpone the special permit until the end of the month.