TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Alarm System Woes Spur Crackdown At Apartment Complex

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

Updated: 09/11/2008 05:15 pm

TAMPA - Firefighters responding to a small fire Monday at Waterman's Crossing apartments on Rome Avenue found several buildings in the complex with fire alarms that didn't work, officials said.

Firefighters extinguished a small fire in apartment J-104. No injuries were reported. A candle had been knocked over, starting a fire that did moderate damage.

About a dozen fire inspectors and city code officials visited the complex today, and found numerous violations, including most of the apartments not having working smoke alarms and extensive mold problems, officials said.

"There's a long history at Waterman's Crossing," said code enforcement officer Jack Ciucio.

One resident, Kelvin Debose, 33, said he hopes to move his family out of the complex in the next few months.

Debose said there was mold on the coils of the air conditioner in the unit he shares with his three children and fiancée, but the complex management has not responded to requests to fix the problem.

He said the residents of an apartment two doors down from him moved out and left the place a shambles. That unit has been vacant for at least a year and a half. Water was running out from under the door, fruit flies were building up on the windows, and the windows were broken, he said.

There was mold everywhere, he said. "It took six months before anyone even came out and looked at the apartment."

Debose said he doesn't let his children – ages 3, 4 and 13 -- play on the grounds of the complex. "It's unsafe," he said. "It's unsanitary."

Debose, who works from home as an insurance claims adjuster, said he has some credit issues and cannot afford the cost of a move. But he's working on the problem and hopes to be out soon, he said.

The apartments are overseen by the Henry S. Miller real estate management company and owned by Atlantic Housing Foundation in Southlake, Texas, officials said. Calls to both companies were not returned.

According to the Atlantic Housing Foundation Web site, its mission "is to promote and preserve quality affordable housing and related services for low and moderate income families, helping residents to improve their lives."

Inspectors today also found holes in firewalls between apartments, missing stair railings and missing or damaged exit signs and emergency lights.

Inspectors with code enforcement found water leaks from plumbing problems, electrical covers missing and defective electrical switches.

Residents in two units were being moved to other apartments within the complex. About 18 vacant apartments have been deemed uninhabitable until they can be cleaned up, authorities said.

Responding to a fire marshal's order issued because of the lack of alarms, the apartment complex is paying for two fire inspectors to be at the complex about 13 hours each night. The inspectors are to keep watch and be ready to alert residents should a fire break out

Fire department spokesman Bill Wade said it's costing the complex $780 a night to have the inspectors on fire watch.

Wade said the complex had a similar problem in 2007 and paid for fire watch inspectors from April 24 to May 11, 2007. Before today, the last fire inspection of the complex was in June 2007, Wade said. The fire marshal's office was at the complex six times for various alarm problems in 2007 and six times in 2006, Wade said. Some of the visits were routine, he said.

Ciucio said the city puts placards on the doors of vacant units with code violations. They are not to be occupied until the problems are fixed and another inspection is done, he said. With occupied units, the complex is given a series of deadlines to fix problems, with the case eventually going to a hearing officer who can level fines of $10 to $500 a day.

The complex is being fined now for other cases, Ciucio said. He didn't have specific information.

Inspectors will continue to monitor the repairs and cleanup.

News Channel 8 Reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT