O apartments for the elderly
by Vyvansetrance on October 21 2020 17:55 hr CE(S)T Shortlink to this report: [ https://urbx.be/tfzn ]
Finding out the location |
easy |
Access |
easy |
Safety |
safe |
Risk of being seen |
low |
General condition of the place |
bad |
Traces of vandalism |
few |
Good place for taking pictures? |
bad |
Did you see other people? |
none or very few |
Visit date July 8 2020 at 1 hr
Visit duration 1 hour
The O apartments were built in 2000 with good intentions. This 72 unit complex was set in place to serve the elderly and low income families. It was a privately owned complex built using federal tax credits. It was meant to be solace for less fortunate and struggling individuals, but sadly only had a short life in a tragic outcome. In 2007, the complex was undergoing an inspection when they discovered it had major foundation issues. Developers did not pay close enough attention to the land they built on, but later realized the ground was sinking under the weight of the buildings and was not secure enough to facilitate them. It was deemed uninhabitable after only seven years. All of it’s residents were forced out, some only given a 14 day period to leave and find other housing. After it was closed permanently, a battle ensued. The city said they were “powerless” in ordering a demotion of the building. But even after the city was granted the powers to enforce these orders, they still kept their focus on other issues and cited high demolition costs. The demolition would have costed $250,000. The mayor said he was hoping the building could be repaired, but then said “They had a plan, but it never happened”. Following this indecisiveness and lack of plan, the building sat vacant for years. It attracted thieves and vandals who broke in and stole what was left. Walls were torn open to extract metal wiring and the apartments were left disheveled and dirty. Doors and windows are busted and invite anyone inside who dares. Crumbling and moldy, it’s hard to imagine what it once was or could ever become after sitting abandoned for 13 years. As of now, O apartments sit on 11 acres of land with a few other structures and is for sale for $4.5 million dollars. It has received three offers hoping to establish mixed-use buildings, including residential, commercial space and a hotel. The city announced recently it would most likely be bulldozed in 2020 and are excited for what is to come.
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