Covered in mold and water damage, the conditions at the Church Street South Apartments in New Haven have gotten so bad, city officials say part of the complex may have to come down.
"It’s been so underinvested in over the years, it seems like it’s going to be very difficult for them to rebuild and retrofit the current existing buildings," said Mayor Tony Harp. "The handwriting's on the wall that we’re going to have to do something about taking at least a portion of it down."
The apartments have been deteriorating for decades. The tenants did not want to be identified in fear of losing their Section 8 housing, but they pointed out water that leaks through the ceiling and mold that lines their bedrooms.
The company that owns the property, Northland Investment Corporation, receives roughly $3 million in subsidies each year. Company officials tell NBC Connecticut they have reinvested even more than that back into the property and are working with the city and the tenants to address any issues.
Some of the tenants are now working with the New Haven Legal Assistance Association to file complaints.
"They shouldn’t have to live with mold, they shouldn’t have to live with leaky bathrooms that are constantly wet, or water just coming straight in every time it rains through the window," attorney Yonatan Zamir said. "This is their home and they deserve better than where they are."
City officials have sent out inspectors to put the pressure on the property owner to fix the problems. Harp said she has no interest in doing any deal with the current owner to redevelop the property until officials start taking care of their tenants.
