Chelsea Facade Collapse Forces Families Out of Orange Street Home

Residents of a three-story brick building on Orange Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts, had to leave in a hurry on Sunday night after the front of the structure gave way and dropped bricks onto the sidewalk. No injuries were reported, but the displaced households spent the night away from home while inspectors worked out whether the building was safe to re-enter.

What happened

According to reporting by WHDH 7News and CBS Boston, the collapse happened at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, when residents heard a rumbling noise. CBS Boston identified the building as 38 and 40 Orange Street; Boston 25 News gave the address as 40 Orange Street. City records cited by CBS Boston show the building dates to 1900.

Firefighters evacuated the occupants, shut off electricity and gas, and temporarily closed the street. Chelsea Deputy Fire Chief Robert Denning said the department used its drone unit to look at the damage from above. The footage, he said, was showing crews "real structural damage" to the building.

Who was affected

Accounts of the scale differ. WHDH and CBS Boston both described six units and six families being forced out. Boston 25 News, which called the building a duplex in one report and a triple-decker in its headline, put the number of displaced people at nine. Those figures are not necessarily in conflict, since six households can include more or fewer people than nine, but none of the outlets published a full headcount of residents.

CBS Boston reported that a firewall separates the two halves of the structure, so people living on the left side were not required to leave. A resident, Jenny Morales, told the station that officials told occupants to grab the most important things, but that it all happened in a hurry. To get people out of the rain, an MBTA bus was brought in as a temporary shelter, according to both CBS Boston and Boston 25. Boston 25 added that the building's management company later arranged a place for the displaced residents to stay.

Condemnation and next steps

Reports differ on the building's legal status. WHDH said a city official condemned the right half of the building. CBS Boston, published later on Monday, said it had not been reported as condemned and that officials were still determining whether the structure was sound, noting that the right-hand side wall was bowing in three places. Boston 25 did not mention a condemnation and said a building engineer was expected on site Monday afternoon.

Board-up crews installed scaffolding and plywood to catch any further falling brick, Boston 25 reported. CBS Boston said Action Emergency Management would work with the building inspector and fire officials, removing loose debris and weatherproofing the structure, with work to begin Tuesday. Until the building is cleared, residents may reenter only with a firefighter escort.

What caused it

No formal cause has been announced. Boston 25 said the incident remains under investigation. WHDH, however, quoted an unnamed city official who inspected the building as saying water had seeped into the walls, causing rot and the sudden failure of the front. Treat that as a preliminary assessment rather than a finding. Boston 25 also relayed a neighbor's account of leaks and falling ceilings inside the building; that is a witness observation, not an official conclusion, and the owner has not been identified publicly.

What this means for renters

A facade collapse is dramatic, but the warning signs usually come well before. Renters in older brick and masonry buildings can protect themselves by paying attention to a few things:

• Report water intrusion in writing. Persistent leaks, stained or sagging ceilings, and damp walls should be documented with dated photos and sent to the landlord in a message you can keep.
• Watch the exterior. Bulging or bowing walls, new cracks, loose bricks or separating trim are reasons to call the landlord and the local building or inspectional services department right away.
• Know your emergency documents. Keep copies of your lease, ID and renters insurance policy somewhere you can grab them or reach them online. Many policies include loss-of-use coverage that pays for temporary housing when a home is unlivable; see our guide to renters insurance after a fire for how that coverage works.
• Ask about your rights if you are displaced. Rules on rent during an uninhabitable period, return of your deposit and relocation help vary by state and city. Contact your local housing or tenant-rights office, or legal aid, before agreeing to anything in writing.

Massachusetts residents who believe their building is unsafe can request an inspection from their city or town's inspectional services office. Chelsea officials have not said when residents will be able to move back or whether the building will be repaired. This story will be revisited if inspectors or the owner release new information.