Residents meet about unsafe building

(Updated)

There were angry and upset residents looking for answers — after their six storey apartment building was basically condemned last Friday. The city of Brantford issued an order to the owners of the building saying everyone had to vacate immediately.

The concrete has large holes in it, the walls are cracked and there’s temporary structural supports around the elevator shaft at 55 North Park St. For 85-year old Lillian Mannen it’s been home for 12 years — a home she doesn’t want to leave.

Rick Mannen is Lillian’s son: “This is a very difficult time for her. She really had planned to stay there until she couldn’t stay there any longer. At some point we knew we would have to do something and maybe move her into a home or something but this is too early.”

Lillian is one of a number of residents who showed up to an information session hosted by the city on Wednesday night. Some of them became very emotional at the thought of being forced out of their homes.

Valerie Howard, resident: “It’s the first home that my boyfriend and I moved into. We had made it our home and they are telling me I have to leave, it’s not my decision.”

It was the city who decided the building is unsafe and told tenants on Friday they should move as quickly as possible. Tonight, they reinforced the urgency.

Russell Thomson: “There’s definitely structural concerns in the building and they have been served with an order. They have to have a further assessment and repair or demolish the building.”

Leaving many of these people with no place to go and no money to do it. The city doesn’t own the building. But it is trying to help residents find alternate accommodation and may provide some financial support if residents qualify.

The social services department is here, the city building department is here, the legal department is here. The only thing missing is a representative for the building manager or owner, Hume Investments.”

Our calls to Hume were not returned.

Brantford’s Mayor Chris Friel says the city is doing all it can to help: “This was really designed for the tenants. We are tring to help them protect themselves and alleviate some of the stress they are dealing with.”

At least 19 of the 59 units have already been vacated. More people are expected to move out this weekend.

Officials say they don’t know yet exactly what caused the structural damage but they have a theory. They think it may have been caused by an earthquake a few years ago. The owners were given months to fix the problems before the city issued this order. The problems weren’t fixed and the city says it really unsafe for people to stay here.