2 weeks later: Housing Authority raises money for displaced Elm Park Tower residents
WORCESTER — Some residents of Elm Park Tower apartments, who were evacuated Feb. 4 after pipes burst in the building, were relocated to new hotels over the weekend and allowed to collect their belongings, according to the Worcester Housing Authority.
The Worcester Housing Authority, which owns Elm Park Tower, also created a fundraising page for residents of the complex at 425 Pleasant St.
On the night of Feb. 4, nearly 200 residents of the seniors-only building were evacuated during a weekend of record-low temperatures.
The residents were placed in four different area hotels — three in the city and one in neighboring Auburn.
In a Feb. 7 update, the Worcester Housing Authority said damage to the building's electrical system is beyond repair and a complete replacement is needed in the 16-story building before residents are allowed to return for good.
Lengthy restoration process
The authority posted that the replacement will be a “four- to six-week restoration process.”
Many of the residents have been moved to Extended Stay America hotels in Marlborough and Westborough. Less than 40 people are at the Residence Inn in Worcester and a few families are staying in the Days Inn in Shrewsbury, Alex Corrales, CEO of the Worcester Housing Authority, said.
One group of residents is still residing at a Holiday Inn they were placed in following the evacuation and they are being transitioned into the newer hotels.
The newer hotel rooms are equipped with kitchenettes so residents can cook their meals, Corrales said.
The housing authority has coordinated the relocation of residents to other hotels for the duration of the repairs.
Residents were allowed to access the Pleasant Street building Saturday to obtain important items from their apartments. They were accompanied by the housing authority.
The building is being prepared for construction.
Meals provided for some
Corrales said vendors are currently using humidifiers to dry the building and replacing exposed sheetrock and floors. The housing authority expects the sprinkler system to be fully operable by the end of this week or early next week.
The authority is looking for vendors to relocate the fire alarm system and replacement of the bus docking electrical system to a conduit pipe system on all 16 floors is likely going to start early next week, Corrales said.
"Overall I would say that things are moving along," Corrales said. "We haven't had any setbacks, but I take this day by day."
Corrales said the housing authority has provided three meals a day to residents without kitchens since the evacuation. The meal service was scheduled to last until Sunday.
Fundraising is intended to help the residents with expenses that they may incur during the ordeal, Corrales said, including possibly having to pay more for laundry or to replace groceries.
Corrales said while his staff has had a successful response so far, he wants the community to know that their help is still needed.
"We've been able to successfully evacuate people. We've been successful in putting them in hotels and feeding them three meals a day," Corrales said. "But these are vulnerable residents. These are elder residents. Some of them don't have families. Some of them are in wheelchairs."
February and March rents are also waived for Elm Park Tower residents, the housing authority said, "so that our residents may use those funds for any necessary needs, such as food and household items."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Housing authority raises money for displaced Elm Park Tower residents
