By William Tauro
In the heart of Somerville, Massachusetts, a well-intentioned city program aimed at revitalizing affordable housing has left one homeowner entangled in a web of contractor mishaps, unfinished work, and bureaucratic inaction. The Home Improvement Program (HIP), administered by the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD) through the City Hall Annex, promises to assist low- and moderate-income residents in upgrading their properties. This initiative, funded in part by Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), pre-qualifies contractors to perform rehabilitation work, with the goal of creating safe, sustainable, and affordable housing options. However, for one local resident, what began as an opportunity to renovate rental units in her home has devolved into a prolonged nightmare, marked by shoddy workmanship, financial burdens, and a lack of support from the city.
The story centers on a Somerville homeowner who enrolled in the HIP to address improvements in her property’s upstairs flooring. The city facilitated the project by allocating $100,000, which was added to the end of her home mortgage. This loan is structured as a deferred payment, meaning the city will automatically recoup the funds upon the sale of the home. In exchange, the program connected her with a pre-approved contractor: Miles Iyamu of Apex Construction & Environmental, Inc., based at 86 Brunswick Street in Dorchester, MA. The work commenced, but problems arose almost immediately.
According to the resident’s account, the upstairs floor was installed twice since December of the previous year, yet the issues persist unabated. The flooring is reportedly peeling away and separating, rendering it unusable and unsafe. Despite repeated attempts to alert the city, no officials have inspected the site, and efforts to resolve the matter have yielded no results. The contractor, meanwhile, has gone out of business, leaving the homeowner without recourse for repairs or refunds.
When I reached for comment, Iyamu initially hung up on me during a phone inquiry but later responded via text: “Ask her for the spec for the Job. Have a contractor compare the upgrade to the work done. Am owed thousands of dollars for changes and the City claimed there is no money for extra work order. Also, we are out of business.” This statement suggests disputes over project specifications, change orders, and unpaid extras, pointing to potential miscommunications or funding shortfalls on the city’s end.
Public records and reviews of Apex Construction & Environmental reveal a mixed history, primarily focused on lead removal and environmental services. While some clients have praised the company for timely deleading work, others note it is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and no widespread complaints specifically tied to Somerville projects were uncovered in available sources. However, the firm’s dissolution exacerbates the resident’s predicament, as she now faces the dual challenge of faulty renovations and a $100,000 lien on her property—without the intended benefits.
The city’s role in this saga raises questions about oversight and accountability. As the program manager, OSPCD is responsible for vetting contractors and ensuring projects meet standards. Yet, despite ongoing correspondence from the homeowner—detailed in attached emails that chronicle back-and-forth exchanges pleading for intervention—the city has reportedly done little to mediate or rectify the situation. No inspections have been conducted, no alternative contractors assigned, and no steps taken to alleviate the financial strain. This lack of action contrasts with the program’s stated mission to support residents in maintaining affordable housing.
In judging this case based on the available details, it appears the City of Somerville fell short in its duty to protect participants in its own program. While contractor disputes can arise in any renovation, the HIP’s structure places the city in a pivotal position to intervene, especially when funds are publicly sourced and tied to long-term homeowner obligations. By not addressing the resident’s complaints promptly or facilitating a resolution—such as reimbursing for subpar work or removing the lien until issues are fixed—the city risks undermining trust in its community development efforts. Homeowners deserve better safeguards, and this incident highlights the need for stronger monitoring, clearer communication on change orders, and dedicated support channels for when things go awry.
As Somerville continues to promote initiatives like HIP to foster equitable housing, stories like this serve as a cautionary reminder: good intentions must be backed by robust execution. The resident’s ordeal, now stretching over a year, underscores the human cost of systemic gaps. City officials, including Program Manager Russell Koty, could still step in to make things right—perhaps starting with that long-overdue inspection.
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