A dispute between Portland and landlord Joseph Soley over alleged fire safety violations at 10 Exchange St. has led the city to order the eviction of all the residential and commercial tenants from the downtown building.

City officials say the sprawling building in the heart of the city's Old Port lacks adequate fire alarms and sprinklers and could be deadly if a fire broke out.

City officials have been working with Soley for more than a year to get him to improve the four-story building, ever since September 2007 when a small fire alerted firefighters to potential problems. While Soley had vendors assess the building's needs, he never did the work -- which could be costly -- and apparently has decided not to do it, said Fire Chief Fred Lamontagne.

Soley wouldn't discuss specifics of the dispute other than to describe the city's action as "retribution."

The city said it tried to notify residents on Dec. 22 and again Monday about the impending eviction but does not have a list of the residents and so had to rely on slipping notices under residents' doors.

Tenants in the 24 residential units have to be out by the end of this week and the 20 commercial tenants must be out by the end of next week, the city said. Some tenants are considering their legal options.

Copyright 2008 Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.