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| Carrying armfuls of stuff out of stinking hallways, residents forced to leave crumbling complex | Carrying armfuls of stuff out of stinking hallways, residents forced to leave crumbling complex |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| All day, residents walked from their apartments to darkened hallways carrying armfuls of clothes and shoes, or stood guard by plastic bins overflowing with belongings. Some dropped bookbags full of stuff from balconies to family members standing below. | All day, residents walked from their apartments to darkened hallways carrying armfuls of clothes and shoes, or stood guard by plastic bins overflowing with belongings. Some dropped bookbags full of stuff from balconies to family members standing below. |
| A series of moving trucks, pickups and family vehicles pulled into the parking lot of the Temple Hills complex, where people loaded up furniture — many times after carrying the items down several flights of stairs because the elevators don’t work — as police and fire officials watched and waited. | A series of moving trucks, pickups and family vehicles pulled into the parking lot of the Temple Hills complex, where people loaded up furniture — many times after carrying the items down several flights of stairs because the elevators don’t work — as police and fire officials watched and waited. |
| After more than a decade of court battles and safety violations, Lynnhill Condominiums was being shuttered. | After more than a decade of court battles and safety violations, Lynnhill Condominiums was being shuttered. |
| “There’s my yearbook. That has pictures in it,” preschool teacher Tonya Pryor said, pointing to a box amid a mountain of belongings in her living room. “I really would [rather] just stay here.” | |
| Prince George’s County interim fire chief Ben Barksdale ordered the twin 50-year-old buildings on Good Hope Avenue emptied after ruling Tuesday that multiple fire code violations made the complex unfit for habitation. | |
| Police with bullhorns began issuing final warnings to leave around 6 p.m. Wednesday, after county social service workers had already found hotels or other short-term emergency lodging for scores of the estimated 133 residents. The residents will be in temporary accommodations for about a week, but it could be longer if they work with the Department of Social Services on case management. | |
| An electronic sign posted at the entrance to the parking lot declared the area “unsafe.” | An electronic sign posted at the entrance to the parking lot declared the area “unsafe.” |
| “We’ve seen a steady stream of people adjusting to the reality,” said Gloria Brown Burnett, Department of Social Services director for Prince George’s County. “The urgency is starting to hit them.” | |
| Still, a few people camped out defiantly on the front steps of the main building, vowing not to leave and saying county officials had not done enough to help them. | Still, a few people camped out defiantly on the front steps of the main building, vowing not to leave and saying county officials had not done enough to help them. |
| As they protested, workers assembled a metal chain-link fence that would soon envelop the perimeter of the complex, cutting off access from all sides. | As they protested, workers assembled a metal chain-link fence that would soon envelop the perimeter of the complex, cutting off access from all sides. |
| Starting Wednesday night, county police would control who can come in and out of the buildings so long as the code violations remain unresolved. | Starting Wednesday night, county police would control who can come in and out of the buildings so long as the code violations remain unresolved. |
| The complex has been crumbling for more than a decade, resulting in power cutoffs and other problems for the assorted condo owners, renters and squatters who have lived amid the pests, foul-smelling corridors and mold-ridden carpets. | |
| The Prince George’s County government tried repeatedly to bring the development up to code, suing the property managers and condo association over multiple violations. Now, fire officials say, the broken fire alarm system and fire doors, and towering piles of accumulated trash, are posing too much of a danger for residents to stay any longer. | The Prince George’s County government tried repeatedly to bring the development up to code, suing the property managers and condo association over multiple violations. Now, fire officials say, the broken fire alarm system and fire doors, and towering piles of accumulated trash, are posing too much of a danger for residents to stay any longer. |
| William Johnson, a lawyer who represents the condo association, denounced the evacuation order on Wednesday and called the inspection process a fraud, saying fire officials had not allowed enough time for the violations to be addressed. | William Johnson, a lawyer who represents the condo association, denounced the evacuation order on Wednesday and called the inspection process a fraud, saying fire officials had not allowed enough time for the violations to be addressed. |
| “Individuals are being severely displaced,” Johnson said. “And while we appreciate the help from outside services, we know that those people would not be there if appropriate notice had been given. We are going to seek redress.” | “Individuals are being severely displaced,” Johnson said. “And while we appreciate the help from outside services, we know that those people would not be there if appropriate notice had been given. We are going to seek redress.” |
| Among the renters in the complex was DeaDrick Johnson, 24, a former Howard University student who lost his financial aid and ran out of money. With no credit and few resources, he found a deal on Craigslist to rent a one-bedroom unit at Lynnhill for $800 a month. | Among the renters in the complex was DeaDrick Johnson, 24, a former Howard University student who lost his financial aid and ran out of money. With no credit and few resources, he found a deal on Craigslist to rent a one-bedroom unit at Lynnhill for $800 a month. |
| Johnson, who travels extensively for his work as a fast-food chain manager trainer, did not learn of the possible evacuation until late last week. He did not have to worry about furniture, because he sleeps on an air mattress. But as he packed his clothes into giant black trash bags, he confessed, “I don’t know where I’m going to lay my head.” | |
| About an hour before the 7 p.m. deadline, police and paramedics carried out an elderly woman on a special chair. Her family said she was more than 90 years old and had sat inside all day as they slowly hauled her belongings out of the apartment. | |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Condominiums in crisis: Financial troubles put many communities at risk | Condominiums in crisis: Financial troubles put many communities at risk |