PEABODY — Construction of a new building to replace the one lost in a massive fire almost three months ago at the Highlands at Dearborn apartment development is expected to begin this fall.
"We anticipate, hopefully, summer of next year," Patrick McMahon, senior project manager for Simpson Property Group, said yesterday about the anticipated completion of the building. "That's what we're working toward right now."
A four-alarm fire temporarily displaced more than 750 residents of the 446-unit development managed by Simpson. The blaze destroyed Building 8, one of 18 buildings on the site, leaving 43 tenants without a home. McMahon was in Mayor Michael Bonfanti's office yesterday to recognize a donation from local banks to assist those who lost everything.
North Shore Bank President David LaFlamme rallied support from other local banks in the aftermath of the May fire. Yesterday, he presented a check for $6,110 to help victims.
"This is what being a community is all about," LaFlamme said. "It's helping people in difficult times."
McMahon praised the city for its response to the fire and thanked LaFlamme for the donation.
"We could not be more grateful for all of the support that everyone has shown in the face of this tragedy," he said.
Those left homeless have all found another place to live.
"We've done our best to track many of them, and it's our understanding that everybody has, thankfully, found a home, either on (the Dearborn) site or off," McMahon said.
He also reported that the remaining buildings in the sprawling complex overlooking Route 128 have all been reoccupied by tenants.
"We are back to normal, day-to-day business operations," he said.
Fire investigators found that a carelessly discarded cigarette ignited mulch, and fire spread to the building nearby. Since the fire, Simpson has replaced the mulch with crushed stone, conducted safety inspections of the other buildings and organized meetings between Peabody fire officials and tenants to help allay concerns.
"There has certainly been an awareness of safety as a result of the event," McMahon said. "We've done our best to work with residents to make them feel comfortable."
That task was made harder early last month when a bolt of lightning touched off a three-alarm blaze in a building at the complex.
Building 8 tenants and tenants in four other buildings directly impacted by the May fire were allowed out of their leases, McMahon said. Simpson worked on a "case-by-case" basis with tenants of other buildings who wanted to vacate their apartments before their lease expired, McMahon said. He didn't know how many people had opted out of their leases.
The new building will be identical to the one lost. Simpson is working with the Peabody Fire Department to determine what safety measures should be included, McMahon said.
