Dozens of residents in Revere, Massachusetts, are being forced out of their homes after the city condemned an apartment building.
Earlier this week, NBC10 Boston learned that the Water's Edge Apartment building has been plagued by issues for years.
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The Department of Public Health decided at a tense meeting Thursday to condemn the 13-story high-rise on Ocean Avenue along Revere Beach.
Attorneys for the city say the building's owners have been ignoring code violations for years.
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"Their tenants are living in a moldy, rat infested high-rise with no fire alarm and fire sprinklers that do not work," said attorney Paul Tellier.
Attorneys for Water's Edge say the city is violating proper procedures by condemning the building. They disputed claims that there are issues with mold and rats.
The issues have been brewing for the last 20 months, starting in November 2022 when a flood in the building damaged a fire panel.
The panel was put in when the building was built decades ago, and the fire department says the parts needed to fix it aren't made anymore.
"We heard much about the fire panel," said attorney David Frye, representing Water's Edge. "It has been repaired and it is functional."
Further investigation found more issues inside, according to the fire department. In December 2022, the building's owner was told repairs must be addressed.
However, fire officials say nothing has been done since.
The fire department worries history could repeat itself. There was a fire at a nearby building on the same street during the summer of 2022.
Recently, the fire department and city officials met with the 40 or so units still occupied inside 364 Ocean Ave., telling them they may be forced to move — a move the current building's owner would have to pay for.
NBC10 Boston has reached out to the owner of the building. Someone from the company said they were not interested in an interview.
Tenants acknowledge there are problems, but many want to stay.
"Shame on you for trying to put us in the street," said resident Sylvia Smith. "Shame on all of you."
Many worry they'll become homeless if they're thrown out.
"Rent in the city of Revere is absolutely out of control," said tenant Lunecee Eligene. "For a lot of people who live at 364, it's the only place we can afford."
Because of the condemnation order, state statute requires the building owners to find comparable homes for the tenants through the remainder of their leases.
City officials say they understand the plight of the tenants, but say the owners are in a dire financial position and have dragged their feet on code issues for seven years.
"The conditions make the building unfit for human habitation," said Tellier.
City officials did not say how much time the tenants have to get out of the building.
They will now work on a game plan to figure out the next steps.
