SECAUCUS – The Hudson County Construction Board tonight will review complaints regarding recent renovations at Harmon Cove Towers (HCT), a condominium development on Meadowlands Parkway.
The board had been expected to hear evidence in the matter last month, but the case was adjourned until now.
In 2004, the HCT condo association hired Castle Restoration and Construction and Falcon Engineering to oversee a $6 million façade restoration project to repair balconies and re-point (restore the mortar of) bricks at the 562-unit development.
But as the restoration project neared completion early this year, several residents of the luxury housing complex began complaining of leaks in the ceilings and walls of their units. In a few extreme cases, the walls of some units even began separating from one another. More than 133 units have been affected, according to an April 2010 letter from HCT’s attorney to Falcon Engineering.
Fearing for their health and the value of their homes, a few HCT residents reached out to town officials for help.
The town’s own engineering firm, Remington & Vernick, did what it called a “cursory inspection” of the recent renovations and found numerous problems with the work that was done.
An engineer with Falcon has fired back, however, stating that the work contracted was not meant to be comprehensive renovation of the façade, and said the condo association had rejected many of the company’s recommendations in an effort to save money.
The County Construction Board, a panel of building professionals which investigates alleged construction code violations, is now reviewing the alleged violations at HCT. E. Assata Wright
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