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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 |
| (35 minutes 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 off balconies to family members waiting 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 off balconies to family members waiting 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 — often 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 — often 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,” pre-school teacher Tonya Pryor said, pointing to a box amid a mountain of belongings. “I really would [rather] just stay here.” | “There’s my yearbook. That has pictures in it,” pre-school teacher Tonya Pryor said, pointing to a box amid a mountain of belongings. “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 that multiple fire code violations made the complex unfit for habitation. | Prince George’s County interim fire chief Ben Barksdale ordered the twin 50-year-old buildings on Good Hope Avenue emptied after ruling that multiple fire code violations made the complex unfit for habitation. |
| For much of Wednesday, 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. | For much of Wednesday, 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. |
| Police with bullhorns began issuing final warnings to leave around 6 p.m., after county social service workers had already found hotels or other short-term emergency lodging for scores of the estimated 133 residents. | Police with bullhorns began issuing final warnings to leave around 6 p.m., 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, perhaps longer if they work with the Department of Social Services on case management. | The residents will be in temporary accommodations for about a week, perhaps longer if they work with the Department of Social Services on case management. |
| As darkness fell, the complex seemed mostly deserted. Police knocked on doors of individual apartments, eventually escorting four more people out. | As darkness fell, the complex seemed mostly deserted. Police knocked on doors of individual apartments, eventually escorting four more people out. |
| Officials said they suspected at least four units were still occupied. But as officers continued to check, they found only units where pets had been left or the television was still on. By 9:45 p.m., police declared the complex vacated. | Officials said they suspected at least four units were still occupied. But as officers continued to check, they found only units where pets had been left or the television was still on. By 9:45 p.m., police declared the complex vacated. |
| “We’ve got to get them out. We can’t leave them behind,” Prince George’s County police spokeswoman Jennifer Donelan said during the latter part of the search. “It’s not safe for them here.” | |
| Police erected emergency markers to block the entrances to the complex, and workers installed a chain-link fence around the perimeter. | Police erected emergency markers to block the entrances to the complex, and workers installed a chain-link fence around the perimeter. |
| Residents can still enter to pick up their remaining belongings, but they must coordinate and get permission from public safety officials in order to do so. | Residents can still enter to pick up their remaining belongings, but they must coordinate and get permission from public safety officials in order to do so. |
| 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 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 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 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 didn’t 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.” | 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 didn’t 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.” |
| At one point Wednesday evening, two babies sat in car seats on the front stoop of one of the buildings, their parents apparently nearby. | At one point Wednesday evening, two babies sat in car seats on the front stoop of one of the buildings, their parents apparently nearby. |
| 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. | 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 |