Landlord, community clash over King Towers move out

When residents of the King Towers apartment complex were struck with startling news concerning the timing of their move out of the fire-damaged building, community leaders and property owners scrambled to find a resolution Sunday evening.

More than 20 residents were displaced after a four-alarm fire claimed the life of FAO Daryl Gordon and torched most of the five-story tower Thursday in Madisonville.

Sunday, members of the Madisonville Community Council organized a pot-luck to honor the life of Gordon and help the residents whose lives have been disrupted. Drinks and hot food were available and information was distributed on how others could help the individuals and families.

But when a local representative of the agent, Walick-Hendy Properties, for the apartment's owner, The Community Builders, told residents they'd have to be out by Monday morning, there was outrage.

The ownership additionally said residents would be provided with only plastic bags to remove their possessions while investigations and clean-ups take place -- tasks that could last months.

In a five-story building full of children and elderly residents -- coupled with an inoperable freight elevator -- residents were up in arms.

"It was incredibly callous," said Bill Collins, a member of the Madisonville Community Council, before a solution appeared to be reached later. "Why are they doing this?"

A spokesperson for Wallick-Hendy told the displaced residents at the meeting that U.S. Housing and Urban Development rules require that landlords not help residents with the removal of furniture.

Residents were even more concerned that The Community Builders were asking residents to be fully moved out of provided hotel rooms by 11 a.m. Monday. They were expected to be out of the rooms and into temporary housing.

"There has been a complete gap of communication between these residents and anything official," Community Council President Luke Brockmeier said. "[Monday] will be one of the first times many of them have met with any official. It's been four days now since the fire."

Brockmeier said that this was not purely the fault of The Community Builders, but a concern with other organizations involved as well -- including Jobs and Family Services and The American Red Cross.

Within a few hours of Sunday's event, The Community Builders promised a resolution to the concerns.

"Everyone here is looking for the best way to proceed and serve the residents in the best way possible," Jeff Beam, director of development for Ohio and Kentucky for The Community Builders, told The Enquirer Sunday night.

In an email exchange between community leaders and the owners, Beam said a team on the ground and at the company's headquarters in Boston would follow up on the issue. Stephanie Garrett, vice president of communications for The Community Builders, said the residents would be provided with free hotel rooms through Wednesday, as opposed to 11 a.m. Monday.

Despite the changes in plans, some members of Madisonville Community Council were still unhappy Sunday night. Collins called the lack of any moving assistance provided by The Community Builders "unresponsive and weirdly inappropriate." Displaced residents should be provided with assistance from professional movers, Collins said.

Garrett said The Community Builders was unable to confirm any claims regarding the use of professional movers.

Representatives from The Community Builders and their local agent, Wallick-Hendy planned to meet with the displaced King Towers residents Monday morning.

Editor's Note: The sign in front of the complex says "King Towers," but in many other references it is called "Kings Tower."