BOSTON'S PROBLEM PROPERTIES INITIATIVE

Established by Mayor Menino, the Problem Properties Initiative is a coordinated, inter-departmental approach to identify and respond to properties where there is persistent criminal activity and violations of the State Sanitary and Building Codes. The Initiative is supported by a set of three City ordinances, one of which establishes the Mayor’s Problem Properties Task Force.

The members of the Task Force make up the heads of ten City departments and is Chaired by the Mayor’s Chief of Staff. Members of these various City departments, such as the Boston Police Department and the Inspectional Services Department, work closely together to identify those properties that have a long-established record of criminal incidents and code violations.  The Task Force may designate a property as a Problem Property based on the number of criminal incidents or code violations recorded within a twelve-month period, the nature of the complaints and the use of the property, in addition to other factors.

Once a property is designated as a Problem Property, owners of such properties are notified. Additional fines and penalties may be enforced against property owners at the discretion of the Boston Police Commissioner or the Inspectional Services Department Commissioner.

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Problem Properties & Enforcement
Definitions of public nuisance, problem properties, and city enforcement. Mayor's Problem Properties Task Force View full Task Force Member list.
Problem Properties View full list of all designated problem properties.

Recently Designated Problem Properties

Property Owner	Street #, Name	Neighborhood	Reported Incidents
John Darling	6-12 Pontiac Street	Mission Hill	Many citations for unsanitary conditions. Boarded up and vacant property for several years.
Edward Franco	1 Aspinwall Road	Dorchester	Site of drug investigations, loud parties, fights, and stabbing in front of property.
Saltshaker Holdings, LLC	38 Gardner Street	Allston	Incidents related to loud parties, including window smashed out of parked car outside property, and rock thrown through window, arrests made.
Yee Fee Har Fong	17 Irmie Road	Allston	Site of numerous unsanitary conditions including rat/pigeon infestation. Interior unfit for human habitation.
Steven Rosen	48 Ashford Street	Allston	Incidents related to stolen property and loud parties.
Robert Balls	11 Evans Street	Dorchester	Site of shootings including a homicide, drug dealing.