Claim for Damages Against the City of Chelsea
Jun 03, 2025
submission
#190
Claim for Damages
Claim For Damages Against the City of Chelsea
| Claimants Name | Jhog Li |
| Claimants Address | 208 Broadway, Chelsea MA 02150-2738 |
| Claimants E-mail Address | [email protected] |
| Claimants Phone Number | +19173858617 |
| Please Describe the Incident Thoroughly | Dear City of Chelsea / Department of Public Works, I am writing to formally submit a claim regarding an ongoing and significant water intrusion issue into the foundation of our building at 208 Broadway Chelsea MA 02150. This issue has persisted for over a month and appears to be directly related to the work currently being conducted under the city’s CHE-004 Phase 1 project in downtown Broadway. Prior to the commencement of this construction project, our property had no history of water infiltration. Since excavation and utility work began around our area, we have experienced consistent and ongoing leakage into our foundation, regardless of weather conditions. This suggests a continuous water source that may have been introduced or redirected as a result of the construction activity. We understand that the City contracted with Albanese D&S, Inc., a third-party contractor, to carry out this extensive infrastructure upgrade, which includes: 7,300 linear feet of new sewer and drain piping Temporary and permanent water main installations Water service replacements, gate valves, and hydrants Hot mix asphalt paving 3,000 linear feet of fiber optic duct bank These works—particularly the deep excavation for sewer, water main bypasses, and foundation-disturbing duct bank installation—could easily have altered groundwater flow or caused physical damage to nearby structures. DPW has already assessed the site and concluded the water is from the natural water table. However, this is inconsistent with our experience. We have reason to believe the construction has either compromised our foundation or affected a nearby utility line. While chlorine tests conducted on our property were negative, we suspect that any chlorine could have been filtered by the adjacent property, through which we believe the water is traveling before entering our own. It is important to note that consistent water seepage for over a month is not typical of fluctuating groundwater levels. Even if this were groundwater, the sustained intrusion would indicate a new and unnatural pathway caused by nearby excavation and water system disturbance. We request a full re-investigation of this issue, including coordination with your contractor to assess potential causes and damages. We also request a written acknowledgment of this claim and a timeline for next steps regarding inspection, mitigation, and property repair reimbursement if deemed appropriate. For your reference, attached is a photo of the ongoing work and a direct link to the contractor’s project description: https://albaneseds.com/current-projects We hope the City will act in good faith to resolve this matter. Please confirm receipt and let us know how to proceed. |
| Date of Incident | 2025-05-27 |
| Time of the Incident | 12pm |
| Conditions at Time of Incident | Construction , Wet Pavement |
| Describe the Conditions you choose | We have also observed that the construction zone surrounding our property has been subjected to massive digging, with open trenches and heavy excavation that appear to have disturbed the surrounding soil and infrastructure. The pavement has remained consistently wet, with visible pooling water along the trench lines, further suggesting an ongoing underground leak or drainage issue related to the construction activities |
| Police Report (if Applicable) | |
| Pictures of Incident ( advisable ) |
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| Location of Incident (closest address) | 208 Broadway, Chelsea MA 02150-2738 |
| Additional detail on location (if needed). | Here are videos of the damage and work thats being done. I can provide more photos and videos if need be. |
| Additional Documents | water leak jun 2.mp4, digging.mp4, amount of water.mp4 |