WORCESTER, Mass. - The property owner of the Sprinkler Factory in Worcester has been in court since January for failure to comply with an order from the Worcester Fire Department to test and repair the building's fire safety systems.
Paul Conger, owner of 36-42 Harlow Street and president of New Street Realty Corp., was ordered in Dec. 2020 by the City of Worcester through the fire department to test and repair the sprinkler system and fire alarm coverage at the Sprinkler Factory.
According to the city, Conger didn’t comply with the order and the case remains in Housing Court.
A City of Worcester spokesperson released a statement to Spectrum News 1 saying “(Conger) has repeatedly failed to comply with court orders, which require (Conger) to repair the fire sprinklers and alarms, and to demolish a portion of the building.”
Conger appeared in court on Wednesday, Oct. 6, resulting in a one-week continuance until Oct. 13 for Conger’s new lawyer, attorney Jonathan Finklestein, to become familiar with the case.
Conger and New Street Realty Corp. received a contempt order in August after failing to comply with an order issued in May to fix the fire alarms and sprinkler systems.
The order for contempt was signed by the Central Housing Court on Aug. 20. The contempt order required all tenants at 36-42 Harlow Street to vacate the premises by Sept. 15.
Thirteen days later, on Sept. 2, Conger sent a letter to the Sprinkler Factory tenants presenting them with notice that the city was commanding the building’s tenants to vacate the premises by Sept. 15. Conger returned to court on Sept. 15 for a status hearing. At the time, the City agreed to allow the Sprinkler Factory tenants to remain at the address as a result of Conger completing the required sprinkler work.
Spectrum News 1 has obtained copies of both the contempt order and Conger’s letter to his tenants.
Matt Glidden, owner of KrafTea Kombucha inside the Sprinkler Factory, was in court for Wednesday's hearing. He tells Spectrum News 1 his business is still operating out of the building, but he has plans to move out by the end of the year.
Glidden said Conger has to submit a detailed plan to the Central Housing Court of the changes he will make to the Sprinkler Factory.
Due to the building’s fire safety issues, Glidden can’t have people in the KrafTea Kombucha taproom. He says he’s still able to operate the business as a wholesale operation, but without people in the building, it’s been a major loss of revenue.
The Sprinkler Factory's website lists four commercial tenants, including KrafTea Kombucha.
Conger is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. for a motion status hearing. When reached by phone, attorney Finklestein issued a “no comment'' on behalf of Conger.
The large factory is made up of three building sections, one of which, according to the city, is subject to demoltion. The factory was built in 1893. Its assessed value is more than $1.3 million.