Condemned Glen Terrace Apartments, Walter Way, Warsaw, are on their way to compliance with Warsaw building inspectors.

Warsaw building inspector and assistant building commissioner Pam Kennedy condemned the last two of five buildings of the complex Wednesday.

Kennedy, Warsaw Fire Chief Matt Warren, fire safety inspector Michael Wilson, building commissioner Gene Oliver, representative from USDA Rural Development Dan Hughes, Indianapolis housing coordinator John Young, rural development manager Enzley Mitchell (USDA Rural Development, Indianapolis) and apartment owner John Call, Syracuse, met Friday to discuss construction plans for the 40-unit complex.

Call said his first concern is the fire separation violation, which triggered the condemnation. He brought plans to the meeting illustrating each step the engineer would take to solve the code violation. Call also said he has plans to paint the buildings and clean out the gutters.

Engineer Ben Niles, Warsaw, was hired by Call to do most of the work needed. Call told the building department he had a meeting scheduled with Niles Friday evening at the apartment complex. He said Niles will start on the floor work Wedneday to eliminate the fire separation problem.

"You're going to have to have keys to do this," Kennedy said.

Call said he was aware of the problem and has taken steps to obtain the keys. The management firm, Sterling Management, has vacated the complex premises and locked the keys in the office.

"I can't legally get at the keys," Call said.

He said Sterling Management claims to still be the managers until July 1, even though Call terminated their employment and has since hired Steve Walters of Justice Management, Nappanee, as new management.

Since no management has been on-site, tenants have no place to send their rent and no place to retrieve their damage deposits. Call also promised Wednesday to make some rent refunds to help temants with moving expenses.

Call said he spoke to his lawyer about changing the locks, but since Sterling Management is still the managers until July 1, Call is legally bound from doing so.

A possible meeting is set for Wednesday between Call and Sterling Management, but Call said he has tried numurous times to reach them and is still waiting to hear back from the firm.

Hughes also has tried to contact Sterling Management but was only able to leave a message. Hughes said he told Sterling Management to contact Call immediatey.

"John was very concerned abut getting them (the units) locked and I am, too," Hughes said.

Locking the vacant units are a concern not only for Call and Hughes, but also for the Warsaw fire department and the building commission. The vacant units have apparent partial occupation, at least at some point in time. Kennedy said trash and beer cans were found in some of the units.

"They (vacant units) weren't secured as of last night (Thursday)," Kennedy said.

"You have to have the keys to secure the building," Wilson said.

Call said he is "reasonably enraged" that he cannot get the keys to start the work and he is doing everything he can to obtain them.

Call is currently researching and deciding on exact products to be used in correcting the fire separation hazard.

"I know what you're looking for and I'll get it," Call told building inspectors.

Oliver told Call he appreciated the work he has put into solving this problem and together, Call and the city, could come up with a "workable solution."

Kennedy said many tenants still have questions on deposits and who to contact since no management is on site. She said all 40 tenents still need their damage deposits back.

"I know of none that have gotten theirs (deposits,)" Kennedy said.

Call said he would let her know as soon as he heard from Sterling Management and also promised to keep Kennedy and the building department posted with daily logs of his progress with the apartments.

Fire inspector Michael Wilson said the fire department is doing "daily checks" at the complex.

Warsaw Fire Chief Matt Warren said he has fire trucks making routine checks to ensure safety to residents still occupiying the units.

"That's why we're doing (this), just to protect your investment (and tenants,) Warren said. "We want to get your building secured."

Kennedy and Oliver also said they're "out there a few times a day."

At this point, no meeting is scheduled between Call and the building department. "(But,) I'm going to keep them posted daily," Call said. Fire separation correction is scheduled to start Wednesday. [[In-content Ad]]