According to a violation notice obtained by tommyduggan.com, Lowell developer
Christopher Cox has been cited by the City of Lawrence Inspectional Services
department for multiple code and safety violations on his Hall Street Property
(2-10 Hall Street).  

The complaint against Cox and his business partner Bill Scott states the multiple
violations include "but are not limited to" the following:

Leaky roof around bathroom vents and light fixtures
Defective step treads and risers
Inconsistent ratios
Deck is not secured to structure
Faulty wired smoke detector system
Water seepage from cellar floors to walls
A leaky and rusty heat pipe valve
Missing granite curbing per approved zoning board site plan
Water drainage  
(see actual complaint at bottom of Page)

The complaint clearly states that multiple inspections of the site have been conducted
since August 15th.  

Earlier this year Cox was denied a plan to put in 24 units of housingon a piece of
property on Park Street (42-44) which is zoned for only 12 housing units. He was
caught lying to the planing board concerning his intentions with the property and
the shady history behind it.  

The controversy arose when the "real owners" of the property came forward and filed a
lawsuit against Cox.   (Park St. Developer Chris Cox, A planning Board Meeting Everyone Should See, )

Another party came forward (Mental Health Resources Plus) and filed a law suit against
Cox on the property stating that they had a prior agreement to develop the Park Street
property.   Despite not having a demolition permit from the City of Lawrence, Cox went
ahead and began work on the building in clear violation of the law. Cox revealed at a
planning board meeting that he was seeking funds through the city to build housing
units for "low income Latinos" despite the fact that he had made a deal with the
previous owner to build a religious chapel in one of the units (with our housing money).  

(Ownership issues stall church-to-condos plan -Eagle Tribune)

Mayor Mike Sullivan hailed Cox at his state of the city address as the man who
was scheduled to "build over 100 units of low income housing on Park Street" even though
no bid process had taken place and Cox had yet to apply for Housing and Urban development
funding.  

Lawrence City Councilor Marie Gosselin revealed at that time that she had been
approached by City Council candidate Israel Reyes (who sits on the planning board) to meet
with Cox to "discuss" his housing proposal on Park Street. Reyes was challenged by Councilor
Michael Sweeney not to vote on the project due to his "possible conflict of interest." After
lobbying publicly for Cox at two planning board meetings Reyes eventually voted present on
the Park Street Plan.

(Planning Board Member Solicits Councilors for Embattled Lowell Developer Chris Cox)

Sources close to the Reyes campaign (he is running at large) say that
the huge (and illegal) campaign signs popping up all over Lawrence were paid for by donations
made by Cox in return for his support on the Park Street project and lobbying fellow planning
board members and City Councilors.  

Peter Slipp  

Former Lawrence City Attorney Peter Slipp, who was a business partner with Cox in a company
called "Tire Systems Incorporated" was seen in Planning and Development personally trying to
expedite applications by Cox on his requests for Housing funding.   Cox also revealed at the
planning board meeting that he had met with Slipp personally in the City Attorney's office to
have his plans on the Park Street site "looked over" by Slipp and approved. Law does not allow
City Attorneys to do private work on building plans for developers.  

Chris Cox Should get the Message: JUST go AWAY! And please Take Peter Slipp With You!

Strangely enough, Mayor Mike Sullivan just named Former City Attorney Peter Slipp to head his
vacant Lot task force. But not before firing Housing director Paula Stuart who had refused to give
special treatment to Cox and Slipp. Workers in Office of Planning and Development said Cox
threatened to have Stuart fired last spring and even demanded an audience with Planning and
Development Director Tom Gallighani whereby he demanded Stuart's job.  

A local private attorney told tommyduggan.com last week that Slipp had contacted him form
City Hall concerning a building his client owned and gave the name Christopher Cox as a potential
buyer, promising to broker a deal for the land and Housing money thought he City of Lawrence.  

Cox and his business partner at now own that property and because they are not in compliance
with Housing and Urban Development restrictions the City of Lawrence is expected to pay more
than$70,000 in penalties out of local tax revenues.