More Concerns Raised About Old Courthouse Developer

Thursday, January 07, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team and Kate Nagle

Photo from the Carpenter's Union of work at Junction Shop Lofts

More concerns are being raised by community organizers and New England labor leaders about the developer poised to redevelop the Old Courthouse in Worcester. But, business leaders and one member of the Worcester City Council defend the developer.

Brady Sullivan, a New Hampshire based company, purchased the building from the City of Worcester in April for $1.2 million. This project is not its only project in the Worcester-area. The company is also developing the Junction Shop Lofts in Worcester and the Lofts at Lancaster Mills in Clinton.

Now, new concerns are coming to light over the quality of the company’s work , issues of environmental exposure and allegation of failure to make timely payment to workers.

As GoLocalWorcester reported on Monday, Developer Brady Sullivan is currently the subject of a lead contamination lawsuit at Mill West in Manchester, NH, and Kevin Ksen with the Carpenters Local #107 in Worcester said a petition to the EPA with over 20,000 signatures is intended to monitor all of the developer’s properties, and cited examples of labor issues in Massachusetts that prompted the action.

“We had some experiences with labor issues at Brady Sullivan properties in Massachusetts,” said Ksen. “Our main concern is when property is developed, are they hiring quality workers, and doing legitimate work. What happened in [New Hampshire], another contractor wouldn’t get away with that. So when that lawsuit moved forward, that’s what moved us to do the petition with Clean Water Action and Public Citizen,” said Ksen.

New Claims and Difference of Opinion

Now, there are concerns about building quality and new doumentation of mold in Brady Sullivan units.

Old Courthouse

“If Worcester cared about good jobs for local people, they wouldn’t have gone so willingly into this agreement. Brady Sullivan’s bad reputation is defined by their subcontractors’ track record of poor workmanship, health violations, safety violations, insurance fraud, and wage theft which just keeps getting longer,” Manny Gines, Organizer for the New England Carpenters. “Worcester already decided, so now it’s the City’s responsibility to guarantee that the problems that have been documented in Worcester and Clinton as well as Vermont, and New Hampshire don’t happen again.

"Three of the four workers at Brady Sullivan’s mill project in Clinton that were the victims of wage theft in July were Worcester residents," he said. "That should wake Worcester up enough to know they need to monitor Brady Sullivan and their subcontractors really closely in order to make sure this project doesn’t become a black-eye.”

In contrast, Tim Murray outlines the importance of the redevelopment of the Old Court House, “Brady Sullivan Properties’ multi-million dollar private sector investments in Worcester are significant. These investments are creating many jobs and spending locally where previously there were none as well as restoring dangerous and vacant buildings into needed, market rate, and workforce housing.”

Murray said, “Additionally, these investments expand the city’s tax base, which is critical in paying for needed municipal services. Also, Brady Sullivan’s commitment to work with the city to include local workers and contractors on these projects is fully supported by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.”

The Old Courthouse is slated to be developed into 115 high class residential apartments and a 3,000 square foot retail space.

"Let me say this. We just went through a major confrontation with the tax class vote, and how we should be support our industries, and not charging commercial tax rates the 'exorbitant high amount' they are," said Councilwoman Konnie Lukes.

"This is a power play by the union," said Lukes. "How should I know about every piece of litigation that a developer is involved with? Unless there's a TIF (Tax Incremental Financing), why should there be any city intervention?"

Not only are their concerns about environmental issues, but also about the treatment of workers on Brady Sullivan projects. “At the time of the courthouse sale we warned everyone about Brady Sullivan’s business model. Not too long after that four local carpenters, three from Worcester, were cheated out of nearly $4,500 in wages working on a Brady Sullivan project in Clinton. Thankfully, they came to the Carpenters who helped them get the money they were legally owed. Are these the kinds of jobs Worcester wants to create for people that live here?” said Frank Kartheiser, Co-Chair Worcester Community-Labor Coalition.