2008.08.05
Salem owes renters 2nd look
After decades of problems at Salem Ridge Apartments, a 13-member task force dipped its toes in the current of complaints from residents at the complex.
Let's hope the panel actually dives in. A lot of people will be eager to see what happens.
Late last week, the task force took a cursory survey of the trouble-plagued units formerly known as Willow River after residents complained about mold, general neglect, smell and health worries.
The panel documented patches of mold and a few fire code violations.
The task force -- Salem city officials, a mold specialist, a health official and apartment management -- found "no cases of imminent danger."
Maybe not to 13 officials who walked through the complex off Virginia 419 near Apperson Drive on a sunny Friday afternoon. But ask the families who live there. Their complaints stem from 24 first-floor apartments condemned four years ago after flooding from the nearby Roanoke River.
Some of the apartments are empty, while others contain debris.
One family living above one of the shuttered units has noticed a musty smell in towels left in the closet and air-conditioning filters needing frequent replacement. Chest colds seem to last longer, they said.
"No cases of imminent danger?"
Tell that to 3-month-old Naudia Thomas, who has undergone breathing treatments twice during visits to the hospital emergency room, according to her mother, Bobbie Waldron. The newborn has been to her personal physician at least three times and struggles constantly with congestion, Waldron said.
"You can hear her wheezing," said Waldron, who moved into her two-bedroom apartment in December.
Residents deserve more than a task force that doesn't complete the task.
Salem's city manager pulled the task force together, and members should follow through to make sure apartment management keeps its promise "to fix what the city thinks needs to be fixed."
If conditions don't improve, residents should vote with their feet and move out.
The apartment complex has caused its share of headaches for decades.
It has flooded at least 10 times since the early 1970s. Two years ago, this newspaper did an in-depth investigation and found that the flood-prone property had received $10.7 million from a federally backed flood-insurance program that had allowed it to rebuild time and time again since 1977.
Waldron said she was familiar with the complex's history, but was assured that flooding shouldn't be a problem anymore.
Perhaps not. But residents contend that they live with the effects of earlier flooding, in the form of persistent odors and other problems from the condemned apartments.
The owner, PAMI Willow River LLC, said residents' health and safety is "paramount."
The owner said that in recent months it has spent $400,000 on the property, which is on the market for $8 million. While the owner noted that it was committed to improving the complex, a statement also suggests it is eager to sell the complex to "a long-term owner who will invest in major upgrades and enhancements."
Waldron, a receptionist, was scheduled to look at a duplex Monday evening.
"As soon as I can get out of there, I'm gone," she said.
Shanna, are these subsidized units? I'm surprised the residents have not already moved out.
Were it my family, I'd be calling the health department while on the road to a new home.
Not public or subsidized housing.--s
Comment by Ed S. — August 5, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Well, I guess the panel is right on one score ... the danger is NOT imminent, it's CLEAR and PRESENT and inexcusable. That place first flooded during its construction in 1972 and nothing has worked since then to prevent further flooding. The buildings with vacant first floor units should be condemned and torn down. And as the other units continue to flood, they should meet the same fate.
Comment by Mike — August 5, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
I actually lived at Salem Ridge with my fiance and brother while we attended Roanoke College. We just needed somewhere affordable with 3 bedrooms. We have more stories that you can imagine including a fire and a 300 dollar electric bill. It's unsafe and noone listens when you complain. Managment pretty much tells you to get over it.
Living there drove me and my fiance to get an apt. at the Hancock Building downtown because the manager is super nice and helpful and the apts are new and reliable. I will never look for a place based on price and size again- even though- we were college students and that was all we could do.
Comment by Kelly H. Simmons — August 6, 2008 @ 2:42 am
I am a currently a resident at Salem Ridge and I am trying really hard to find somewhere else suitable and safe to live for myself and my kids! I agree with the Kelly Simmons the management at the apts. do not care, and the maintenance team around there are beyond LAZY!!!
Comment by Bobbie Waldron — August 6, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
My friend Bobbie Waldron lives at Salem Ridge and I warned her about how it was over there! The management and the maintennace team over there are TERRIBLE and do not care!!
Comment by Jennifer Miller — August 6, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
Salem always has and always will do whatever they want to. They never got over losing the railroad to Roanoke in the 1880's and they became a closed society, another county, with the movers and shakers setting up their own little empire. The only way to get anything out of Salem is to get out of Salem.
Comment by Percy Kution — August 7, 2008 @ 1:50 am
Does Salem Ridge hire Licensed Contractors? After the last flooding repairs were made but where is the license? Maybe they were more concerned about the price, I think that should be checked into!
Comment by Lynn — August 13, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Lynn:
Are you implying that possession of a license by the workmen will somehow hold back the raging waters of the river during a gully-washer? They need to "check into" relocating to higher ground.
Comment by Mike — August 14, 2008 @ 3:00 am
Well considering everybody that moves in is bold faced lied to bout the number of times the complex has flooded(we were told only twice....not from around here) and then were told that the CITY supposedly widened the river to prevent it from EVER FLOODING AGAIN you could say that was false representation of a rental property. I can tell you this a LICENCED HVAC technician has never worked on the units there and last time i checked thats a federal offense with a 10K reward for anybody that turns somebody in for doing HVAC repaired without proper credentials...hint hint
Comment by pradaiswornbythedevil — August 14, 2008 @ 6:41 am
We too had the same issues there as well. When the task force came out we thought they were actually going to take actual action. Instead we were left to our fears and thoughts of why we were left at the mercy of these monsters! Black mold has been proven to cause permanent damage to neurological aspects of the human body as well as everything else we are hearing about and suffering from now. To think the way the local government is allowing this to tarnish the 'GREAT' city of SALEM.This outright 'turning of the heads' by city officials makes me sick. Maybe we should go buy some land in SALEM and put up a cardboard box and rent it out. I'm sure that would last long...actually it already has...it's called Salem Ridge.
Comment by eyes are being opened — August 14, 2008 @ 10:05 pm