After fatal Madisonville fire, getting on with life

An opportunity for tenants of Kings Towers Apartments to retrieve belongings Wednesday from the burned-out building might not have been the final deadline after all.

Thirty-four units, some of which housed families, were affected in the March fire at the Madisonville apartment building at 6018 Dahlgren St.

Cincinnati firefighter Daryl Gordon was killed when he fell down an elevator shaft battling the blaze.

Tenants have had limited access to their old homes, multiple residents confirmed. Access to the building was also provided on short notice, they said. Still, it wasn't necessarily their last chance to get in.

In response to community concern that resident-services organization Housing Opportunities Unlimited might deny future access to tenants, the organization sent an email to Cincinnati officials saying that wasn't the case.

"It's been very difficult to get the finality we need to turn the building over for rehab and restoration. Deadlines can help create action, but we won't hold the deadline too rigidly if it puts a resident at risk of losing something they wish to keep," Housing Opportunities Unlimited said in the email obtained Wednesday by The Enquirer.

Over the past eight weeks, the company that owns the building has "provided multiple opportunities for King Towers residents to pack and move their belongings," Stephanie Garrett of The Community Builders wrote in an email to The Enquirer. "This access has been controlled to ensure the security and safety of all residents and their personal property."

Other aspects of that relationship between Housing Opportunities Unlimited and the tenants remain stormy, said Luke Brockmeier, president of the Madisonville Community Council.

Previously, Housing Opportunities Unlimited has been combative toward the residents, he said. Brockmeier also alleges the contractor only granted supervised access to the building Wednesday, and tried to turn volunteer movers away at the front door.

Housing Opportunities Unlimited was hired by the building's Boston-based The Community Builders Inc.

"Before we turn control of the building over to contractors to begin rebuilding, TCB will confirm that all residents have had the opportunity to pack their belongings," Garrett wrote.

"TCB is making every effort to lessen the stress of this transition on residents by providing professional movers and packing supplies, as well as kitchen-equipped hotel rooms. If we learn of any residents who require additional assistance after (Wednesday), we will provide the necessary accommodations to ensure they and their belongings are safe and secure."

Housing Opportunities Unlimited declined to comment.