Snow, Ice Cause Structural Damage at Waterbury Senior Housing Center

Crumbling ceilings and soaked carpets are just some of the problems tenants at a Waterbury senior housing complex are facing during a cold and snowy winter.

Inside Barbara Shappy's unit at the Valley Mall Manor senior housing complex in Waterbury, a large hole sits in the middle of the kitchen ceiling. Shappy said water leaked through the roof, creating a mess.

"I was getting ready to go to bed and all of a sudden the thing cracked open and it just came down," Shappy said.

In the next building, water drips from Art Capaldo's ceiling. He placed a bucket underneath to catch the leak, but even so, the carpet in his living room is soaked.

"I'm concerned for my health, breathing, because it's moldy all the time," said Capaldo.

The two tenants said there have been problems with the roofs at the complex for years.

"The fixes have been like Band-Aids and it's disconcerting," said Capaldo.

The city health department is now requiring the building owner, TLK Properties out of New Jersey, to remove snow and ice from the roofs and place tarps on them. Building management will also have to vacuum out the water from Capaldo's unit and replace the carpet.

Health inspector Dave Lanese said the owners are cooperating.

"They want to work with us," he said.

Lanese said permanent repairs inside and outside the units will take place in the spring and could include new roofs.

"We're going to have them evaluate it by a licensed roofer and then find out what exactly has to be done and require them to do that," said Lanese.

TLK Properties spokesperson Simcha Podolsky said the company plans to make lasting repairs once winter ends.

"We're trying to address it as best as we can. We're getting clobbered with snow. It's impossible to fix it now. Everyone's health and safety is our No. 1 priority," said Podolsky.

Tenants said they hope the owners make good on their promises of permanent repairs.

"I'm hoping for them to repair it the proper way, get a new roof up there," said Shappy.

The company said it has spent thousands of dollars on roof repairs at the complex in the last year; however, city officials said the work wasn't done properly.

The snow should be removed from the roofs and tarps put up within the next two days.

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