Some businesses in Teele Square have reopened following a five-alarm fire that displaced 43 residents and damaged several local businesses on Broadway.
The fire broke out on Sept. 30 at a three-story building on 1137–1147 Broadway. According to the Somerville Fire Department, the fire originated above the ceiling of a third-floor apartment. The cause remains undetermined but the report finds that it was most likely electrical.
According to Somerville City Councilor Emily Hardt, who represents Ward 7, the right side of the building only sustained smoke damage, so several businesses that temporarily closed have since reopened and residents were able to move back in.
The left side of the building, which experienced the most damage from the fire, will require further renovation and a bigger construction project.
“[Businesses on the ground floor] reopened last week, and residents were able to move back in on [the right] side of the building,” Hardt said. “But on the left side of the building … my understanding is that there’s going to have to be a big construction project, rebuilding or gutting and renovating from the inside.”
While the timeline for rebuilding remains unclear, the city has been coordinating assistance for residents displaced by the fire.
Somerville Emergency Management Director William Fisher said that following the fire, the city opened up a conference room in the Tufts Administration Building for displaced residents, providing them with a central location to receive assistance.
“We wanted to get these folks into somewhere where they could sit down and take a break and get some refreshments and get organized,” Fisher said.
The Emergency Management Department also works closely with the American Red Cross to provide financial assistance and crisis counseling. According to Fisher, the city worked with the fire department and the Red Cross to connect with displaced residents and assess immediate needs, such as accessing essential medications.
According to Fisher, the city has been holding daily briefings to identify residents’ outstanding needs and coordinate next steps. The city is also coordinating with departments to determine whether to activate its fire fund to provide additional financial assistance.
Two businesses, Teele Square Laundromat and Happy Crab, remain closed since the fire.
Moses Kye, owner of Teele Square Laundromat, said the business suffered extensive water and smoke damage during the fire, even though the laundromat itself did not catch fire.
“During the firefighting process, a massive amount of water poured down into my laundromat on the 1st floor,” Kye wrote in a statement to the Daily. “The ceiling completely collapsed, and all the machines and fixtures were soaked and damaged.”
The store has temporarily relocated to Chris Fine Tailoring nearby so that customers can continue to receive their services.
Kye stated he has not received direct guidance from the city about assistance available to his business and was concerned that the insurance compensation will not be adequate.
“I do have insurance, but because the coverage is low, I am worried that I won’t receive sufficient compensation,” Kye wrote. “The landlord said they would try to have the ground-floor businesses reopen first in 3 or 4 months, but customers who have experienced fires before tell me it will take at least a year to reopen.”
Conor Brennan, owner of PJ Ryan’s, an Irish pub in Teele Square, said the fire also affected his business and could limit the square’s customer base.
“The big challenge is obviously the displacement of the businesses, [which is] another reason for people potentially not to come to the square,” Brennan said. “The other challenge is the displacement of the tenants who lived above the businesses.”
The damage to the building on 1137–1147 Broadway has changed the landscape of Teele Square.
“That building itself is a big asset to the square, so it was really upsetting to hear about that fire,” Brennan said. “We’re just happy that nobody was hurt physically from the fire, and hopefully … the city supports the rebuilding of the units.”
