Wednesday, June 30, 1999
City scrutinizes senior housing
Residents upset about building conditions
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Cincinnati City Council committee, after hearing complaints of seniors living in public housing, has asked for an inspection of all buildings and 11 properties owned by Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA).
“I want the Buildings and Inspection and Health departments and the Fire Division to do a thorough inspection of all these units so that we can get to the bottom of these complaints,” Councilman Charles Winburn said.
His motion was introduced in a hearing before council's neighborhood and small business development committee Tuesday. It will go before the full council today.
Council members Paul Booth, Jeanette Cissell, Minette Cooper, Tood Portune and Tyrone Yates signed the motion.
Councilman Jim Tarbell did not.
“I have been around Metropolitan Housing 17 years and know it takes time to get these things done,” he said.
Appearing before the committee were Fire Chief Robert Wright; William Langevin, director of Building and Inspection; and Health Commissioner Dr. Malcolm Adcock.
They agreed to start the inspections immediately. Mr. Winburn asked for a report by Aug. 3.
Mr. Langevin said a thorough inspection and follow-up could take a year.
On a tour of five CMHA buildings Friday, Mr. Winburn said, 30 discrepancies were found. They included:
• A sink in one apartment that had not worked in six months.
• Surveillance cameras not monitored.
• A handicap button on front doors not working.
• An apartment not painted in 15 years.
• Buildings without security.
“I would hate to see what would happen if one of these buildings has a major fire,” Mr. Winburn said.
Mr. Portune suggested the City Solicitor's office look at a law covering nursing homes and senior care facilities.
“If our current law isn't strong enough to insure safety, we might consider adopting some of those measures,” Mr. Portune said.
Mr. Langevin said his de partment can only enforce what is on the books.
“Buildings that were constructed in the 1960s did not have to have sprinklers,” he said. “Any new apartment building has to have sprinklers and fire alarm systems. Council may look into changing the law on the older buildings.”
About 80 seniors attended the meeting Tuesday, most of them voicing the same complaints.
CMHA Director Donald Troendle and the agency's board did not appear before the committee as requested, but sent a letter.
The letter said: “We are troubled by what appears to be an attempt to divert attention from the larger issue of crime in the neighborhoods surrounding many CMHA communities, and lay the responsibility at the doorstep of CMHA.”
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