Joy Park residents unhappy

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http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/3142147.htm

Fri, Apr. 26, 2002

Joy Park residents unhappy

Mothers worry that mold may have harmed children's health. They wonder why

Akron housing agency hadn't acted earlier

By Bob Downing

Beacon Journal staff writer

Residents of the Joy Park public housing complex in southeast Akron are

unhappy that for the past two years they've been living in apartments that

may have been contaminated by a potentially life-threatening mold.

``I'm angry,'' said Jill Harrah, who has learned that her 15-month-old

daughter's medical problems could have been caused by exposure to the mold.

Her daughter, Alyssa, has had severe respiratory problems and allergies and

typically is taken to the hospital once a month for treatments.

No one could figure out the cause of the problems, the 20-year-old Harrah

said.

But on Wednesday, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority announced that it

plans to evacuate 67 apartments in 16 buildings at Joy Park Homes to allow a

$2 million mold cleanup.

After being told that she would be moved from Joy Park, at least

temporarily, Harrah called her daughter's doctor and was told that mold

could be the cause of Alyssa's medical problems, she said.

AMHA officials held a series of informal meetings yesterday with the

residents who are being relocated.

These residents live in apartments off Vinson Way and McMillan Circle in the

Joy Park complex. After their apartments were renovated two years ago, the

mold problem was found in 23 then-unoccupied buildings undergoing

renovation.

The contaminated buildings were filled with three kinds of mold, including

strachybotrys, which is greenish-black and has been linked to potentially

fatal pulmonary hemosiderosis, or bleeding in the lungs.

Children, especially those exposed to tobacco smoke, are most at risk from

the mold. Symptoms of pulmonary hemosiderosis include nosebleeds and

coughing up blood.

Strachybotrys grows only on wood or paper.

The concerns about the mold problem at Joy Park triggered an $800,000 mold

cleanup in the 23 buildings in 2000-01. But little was done to deal with

possible mold problems in the 16 already renovated buildings.

Officials talked about testing for mold, but the only testing occurred when

four apartments were vacated. Air testing showed some mold problems,

officials said.

Harrah, who has lived at Joy Park for two years, said she and her father

inspected her apartment for mold after reading Akron Beacon Journal stories

in 2000 about the problem. They found no sign of mold.

``But it could have been there all along -- behind the wall and out of

sight,'' she said. ``... It's troubling, real troubling. Something's just

not right... and it makes you wonder.''

Harrah's 21-year-old neighbor, Lakeisha Curry, expressed similar concerns.

``I'm unhappy, especially if they (AMHA officials) have known for a long

time about mold problems here,'' Curry said. ``It's a definite concern,

especially with all the children here.''

Curry has a 3-year-old son, Deanthony, and she said he has suffered ear

infections and allergies.

She said she had not seen mold in her apartment.

The mold problem has created a good news/bad news scenario, Curry said.

``I'm happy to get a new apartment,'' she said. ``But the timing is bad for

me because I'm seven months pregnant.''

Curry said AMHA officials told her they may try to move her as soon as

possible because of her due date.

Antoinette Burkley, a 20-year-old mother of two, said she's willing to move

out of her apartment, too.

``But I'm concerned about my children,'' she said, ``... and I'm worried

that they may have been exposed to mold for two years.''

She said 2-year-old Mar'najan and 11-month-old Mark have had

respiratory problems.

``But I don't know that mold was involved,'' she said.

AMHA officials said they have no reports of mold causing health problems for

any residents of Joy Park.

The renovations to the 16 buildings should take three to four months. The

work will require the removal of drywall and cabinets, the application of

mold-killing chemicals and sealers, and testing to make sure the mold has

been eliminated.

Tenant meetings with AMHA officials have primarily dealt with the logistics

of the move, agency spokesman Konen said.

The agency will move some residents to other apartments in Joy Park and some

residents to other AMHA facilities. Those moving to other Joy Park

apartments will remain there after the renovations, but those moved to other

sites will be able to move back into their renovated apartments if they

want, officials said.

The AMHA will pay for the moves, officials said.

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Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@...