Stamford condo residents wonder when they can return, what the future holds after units condemned
Lettie Williams, 84, was among the group evacuated by bucket truck after the stairs and deck that lead to her unit broke away from the building—something she was concerned about for a while. “It's been going down for a while,” Williams said. “And you know Friday, all hell broke loose because it really came down.”
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Stamford firefighters rescued seven residents Friday evening after a stairway and landing at a condo complex started to collapse. Days later, there are still questions on when they can return.
Lettie Williams, 84, was among the group evacuated by bucket truck after the stairs and deck that lead to her unit broke away from the building—something she was concerned about for a while.
“It's been going down for a while,” Williams said. “And you know Friday, all hell broke loose because it really came down.”
Her granddaughter was the one who made the 911 call that sent crews to 37 Greenwich Ave.
“I was afraid that my grandma would fall from the second story,” Yashika Higgs-Blair told News 12.
Those stairs are the only way in and out of four condos, so the city's Building Department condemned those units. The neighboring stairs to four other condos were also deemed dangerous and those units condemned as well.
“That was Friday. They said they was going to get somebody to fix it. Well, today is Tuesday. Nobody has been over there to do anything about that,” Williams said.
“It's not just a matter or a couple bolts or nails or anything. It's going to have to come down and be rebuilt,” said Deputy Fire Chief John Pritchard, who responded to the call.
The building is managed by Felner Corporation at the direction of the condo's elected board on behalf of the unit owners.
In an email to News 12, Matt Felner wrote, “With respect to how the stair and deck conditions progressed to this point, this is the result of long-term capital planning and funding challenges, not a single point of failure or recent inaction. When Felner Corporation assumed management approximately three years ago, we identified the deteriorating conditions and recommended full replacement of the structures. At that time, the Board elected to pursue localized repairs due to the significant cost of full replacement.”
Felner said as conditions worsened, the condo association decided to move forward with the replacement project, but it’s taken a long time to get a bank loan to finance the project. Closing on the loan was scheduled for Tuesday, according to Felner, who said if that goes as expected, construction for the replacement project could begin in the next few weeks.
Felner said in the meantime, sketches for temporary emergency repairs--so residents can return to their homes--have been submitted to the Building Department and are awaiting approval.
Felner Corporation put up Williams and other residents at a local hotel, but it's unclear if that will continue. Higgs-Blair said every day her grandmother waits to hear whether the company will pay for another night.
“We're looking for them to pay for the placement of her and other tenants, and we can't get anybody on the phone,” Higgs-Blair stated. “She's 84. She doesn't need this stress of worrying every day of if she's going to be put out or where she's staying when she pays a mortgage, pays her common charges and has a place to stay of her own.”
In Felner’s email, he said, “Counsel for the Association has confirmed that there is no legal obligation for the Association to provide alternative housing in these circumstances, as unit owners are typically responsible through their own HO6 insurance policies (which commonly include loss-of-use coverage). That said, as a good-faith measure, Felner Corporation has voluntarily arranged and is currently funding hotel accommodations for several affected residents at the Stamford Suites, and we are continuing to do so while the Board evaluates next steps.”
But Williams told News 12 her insurance company said because the issue is outside her unit in a common area, it's on property management to cover her housing.
Williams worked at Greenwich Hospital for 20 years and is now retired, so she’s on a fixed income. She said a hotel stay isn’t in her budget.
“Then what am I supposed to do? That's my home. I pay to live there. Where do I go from here?” Williams asked.
