It’s been a week since tenants were forced to leave their apartments in Glenolden after their building was condemned, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News.
Borough officials declared the Turner Apartments on Chester Pike unsafe last week.
More than a dozen people have been living in hotels or staying with relatives since the evacuation.
“It’s very frustrating, and it’s honestly getting to a point where everyone’s starting to feel hopeless, because we don’t know what to do,” said resident Dianna Sharobeem.
A malfunctioning heating system triggered a fire alarm on Nov. 9. No flames were found, but a natural gas leak was detected. A water heater was also flooding the basement, and a heater was overheating.
The borough is prosecuting the landlord for not obtaining rental licenses and making necessary repairs, said Glenolden borough manager Brian Razz.
Residents were ordered to immediately evacuate, and no one has been allowed back inside.
Sharobeem said they are using up their saving living in a hotel room, “and we can’t afford it.”
The Pal Che Tang Soo Do karate studio on the first floor was also forced to shut down and cancel classes as they search for a temporary location.
Read more about the displaced residents at CBS News Philadelphia.
