Health hazards may evict 640 tenants

July 10, 2002

By Osborne

Post staff reporter

A company managing a large Bond Hill apartment complex is asking a judge to

order the evictions of 640 tenants after a study revealed possible health

hazards due to mold, raw sewage and other contaminants.

Habitat America says it would cost $10.5 million to correct problems at the

financially troubled Huntington Meadows complex, and instead is seeking a

court order requiring tenants to leave by Aug. 31.

An environmental study commissioned by Habitat concluded that " moderate to

significant bio-contamination " existed at the site due to the presence of

asbestos, mold, raw sewage, animal remains and insects.

City officials will hold a tenants meeting Wednesday with Habitat, the

Legal Aid Society and the Federal National Mortgage Association - which

holds the mortgage - to develop a relocation plan. The city has invested

nearly $4 million in the project.

Habitat isn't charging tenants rent for August and may quickly refund

security deposits to help families find new homes. The company is a

court-appointed receiver that has assumed temporary management of the site.

" It's very shocking that millions of dollars was invested into redeveloping

these apartments and environmental issues were not addressed, " said Vice

Mayor Reece. " We're looking at 600 families that have to relocate by

next month. We're talking about the elderly and children. "

Reece, who heads City Council's health committee, has led efforts to help

tenants after the complex's previous owner filed for bankruptcy and largely

abandoned the site.

A consultant's report submitted to Habitat June 19 and forwarded to City

Council July 5 states: " During course of conducting asbestos inspection work

under the original (study), mold and other bio-contamination has become of

significant issue. "

The study found " significant quantities of damaged (asbestos containing

material) throughout the complex, raw sewage and other bio-contamination in

crawl spaces, mechanical rooms and basements, and fungal contamination in

apartment units. "

Publication Date: 07-09-2002

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