SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO An aerial view of the Pajama Factory, 1307 Park Ave. The city has lifted a “fire watch” requirement for the eight-building complex.

The eclectic and historic location of artists and small business ventures at the Pajama Factory has cleared a fire safety hurdle on its way to being a safe place for its 150 tenants, some of whom live and work there.

The city Bureau of Codes indicated in a statement Mark and Suzanne Winkelman, the owners of the eight-building complex at 1307 Park Ave., have met requirements in an order released Oct. 30 by the city Uniform Construction Code board of appeals, so that a fire watch, a type of 24-7 guard service, can be removed at the eight-building complex.

“The Pajama Factory has met the requirement that the UCC board of appeals required in their decision. Therefore, the Codes Department has permitted the fire watch to be removed,” said Gary Knarr, city zoning officer.

“The Pajama Factory still needs to work on becoming completely code compliant, therefore, we will continue to require those area(s) become compliant,” Knarr said.

Fire suppression requirements were ordered by the board of: Anthony Visco Jr., chairman; Dave Daneker, William Ertel, and Walter Nyman.

The board reviewed testimony given during a hearing called for by Mark Winkelman on Oct. 1.

Winkelman asked for the hearing because he believed the codes department erred in issuing the unsafe building notice following a walk-through of part of the complex by Williamsport Bureau of Fire inspector Stephen Yonkin.

They had to get working sprinklers and a fire alarm system functioning throughout the buildings and connected to the 911 service, so that the city Bureau of Fire could respond.

Sun-Gazette staff were unable to reach the Winkelmans for comments specifically about the lifting of the fire watch requirement.

“We are a family here and we can’t imagine anything worse than a fire,” the Winkelmans said in an earlier letter to the community, however.

In the letter the couple said they have been gradually making improvements to the building since it was purchased in 2007.

The owners said they will continue to work in close partnership with the city officials.

Knarr said there remain code deficiencies as they pertain to the city getting certificates of occupancy.

The buildings are about 60% developed, Winkelman answered regarding that request.

He said the requirement that all construction was to be completed before there could be legal occupancy does not take into account that phased-construction can be done in a code-compliant manner and allows incremental occupancy.

An architect by profession, Winkelman said this is dictated in International Existing Building Code under a chapter regarding change of occupancy and a chapter on historic buildings, which encourages phased, or gradual development to make possible the preservation, restoration and repurposing of the buildings. The building was once the home to the Lycoming Rubber Co.