Owner of damaged building says insurer, contractors and permit backlog slowed repairs; magistrate pauses enforcement

Gary Lambert, managing member of Lambert Worth LLC, told the special magistrate on July 30 that a major electrical fire burned many units and left the property with open electrical and other permits. Lambert said he has spent substantial sums — including roughly $200,000 on electrical work and tens of thousands more on repairs — but that insurers and the availability of contractors hampered completing final inspections.

"I've probably have about $400,000 into that building right now," Lambert told the magistrate, describing replacement of wiring, drywall and other repairs. Building staff confirmed an AC permit and other applications have been submitted and are in various stages of plan review; the assistant building official advised that some permit items require additional plan revisions (accessibility and electrical finals) before issuance. The magistrate said the city would pause enforcement actions on this docket item to allow owner and staff further coordination and set a later date for status review.