Tenants refusing to leave condemned building

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Tenants of a condemned Springfield apartment complex refuse to leave their homes.

The two apartment buildings at 2612 and 2616 Main Street in Springfield's North End were condemned in January and the residents were told they would have to leave.

Deputy Housing Director Dave Cotter told 22News inspectors found dozens of code violations including plumbing problems, exposed wires, unsanitary conditions and a lack of carbon monoxide detectors.

Tenants told 22News there are cockroaches, bed bugs and rats inside.

12-year-old Jose Acevedo told 22News, “We sleep in the cold, I sleep next to a window and I wake up sick, there are also rats in the kitchen.

Despite all that, they say their only other option is the streets.

Rosa Andino has relatives in the building, she said, "Half of them are children, half of them are 18 with children and they are getting no help at all, my grandmother lived here for 30 years and they're basically throwing her to the street."  

The tenants appealed, but their request to stay in their homes was denied Monday and they were ordered out once again.

It’s an order they plan on fighting.

Andino explained, “This is home to them so they said they're staying and they're going to put up a fight."

The Springfield Office of Housing and the Department of Transitional Assitance may be able to help some of the tenants.

Cotter told 22News another hearing will be held Thursday at 11a.m. to determine how the city will proceed to get the tenants to leave.