Hundreds of Rocky Hill residents ordered to evacuate after town condemns apartment complex

ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WTNH) — Hundreds of people were told they must find a new place to stay by midnight after the Town of Rocky Hill condemned five large apartment buildings due to problems with their heat, water and fire suppression systems.

Between 500 and 800 residents of the Concierge Apartments were helping each other put their belongings in their cars Friday night as they left for temporary accommodations. Volunteers helped residents wheel furniture, pets, food and clothes along the complex’s hallways, down elevators and into sub-freezing temperatures outside.

“They put me in a hotel on Saturday, I’ve been back-and-forth since then every three days,” resident Tara Brook said. “They extended the hotel and now I’m told that it is extended through next Tuesday.”

Rocky Hill Mayor Allan Smith said some of the building have been without water and heat for two weeks. The fire suppression system is also not working due to pipes freezing and bursting.

“A multitude of different problems over the years since I’ve been here,” resident Lazarick Hogan said about the complex.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the apartments are run by a $15 billion company based in California with properties in 23 states. Now, Congressman John Larson is calling for a federal investigation into the practices of the landlord.

Dozens of volunteers came to help the complex’s residents after Smith said town officials posted a call to action on social media. He said that, not only have people shown up to help, food and gift cards have also been donated to help people who were forced to leave food in their refrigerators as they evacuated.

“I really hope that, after all of this effort, this landlord sees how much this community cares for people and they do the right thing,” volunteer Tejal Vallam said.