38 Studios did not have proper permits

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Curt Schilling's gaming company 38 Studios, which declared bankruptcy on Thursday, was operating for several months in a building without proper permits, WPRI 12 has learned.

The building which housed the taxpayer-backed company since May 2011 had a certificate that expired in September 2011 - while hundreds of 38 Studios employees worked inside.

The Providence Department of Inspection and Standards says three temporary certificates were filed starting in May 2011, but there was a problem with each one.

The contractor, Nappa Construction Management, says it was unaware of the city's assertion that the carbon monoxide detectors were antiquated and the elevators needed repair.

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The documents indicate there were no safety issues for employees. But those documents are also expired.

"We will pursue this and get them to complete it," said Jeffery Lykins, a department employee.

Lykins says it wasn't 38 Studios' responsibility to file for a certificate of occupancy but rather the contractor's.

"I'm sure it slipped someone's mind," he said. "Not a great thing, but at the same time there were no safety issues. The building had been thoroughly checked out. We wouldn't have given them a temporary if there were any safety issues with the building."

A Nappa Construction representative told WPRI 12 the company is working with the fire department to get a permanent certificate of occupancy.

City officials say they are working to update their systems so that a six-story office building can't be open without a certificate of occupancy again.