WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) — Condo homeowners reunited at this time, precisely one 12 months after police pressured them to evacuate their Waukesha houses, for concern the constructing may collapse.
Forty eight items are inside Horizon West Condos. The occupants recall emotions of uncertainty that chilly night time. Some aged, some teenagers, dwelling alone –now, with one widespread thread — the heartbreak they simply cannot shake.
“We’re still here. This hasn’t gone away for them,” mentioned Diane McGeen, daughter of rental proprietor.
Diane McGeen’s 87-year-old mother has had a tough 12 months, after the panic of being pressured out of her fourth-floor dwelling at Horizon West Condos.
“It was almost like being on the Titanic when it sunk. It was 15 minutes, get out, you won’t be able to live here ever again,” mentioned McGeen.
This is Horizon West Condos, on West Avenue in Waukesha at this time. A 12 months in the past, it was declared structurally unsound.
“It was panic everywhere, people in the hallways saying is it true? Is it true? Is this really happening?” mentioned McGeen.
Scars resulted each bodily and emotional.
“Moving she had a stress fracture in her back and then that set her off. And then she started having more heart issues,” mentioned McGeen.
Right now, Ione Kohler is again within the hospital, her sixth journey within the final 12 months.
“And before that she was like vibrant and active and very healthy,” mentioned McGeen.
Of the 48 households affected, we have realized some are nonetheless homeless — residing with a member of the family, sleeping on couches. Some who selected to lease an condominium have seen their credit score take a success as a result of they may now not pay their mortgage.
“The last year’s been very hectic. The first two to three months I was in a pretty deep depression,” mentioned Laurel Peterson, rental proprietor.
Laurel Peterson confirmed us this picture of her daughter of their second-floor rental earlier than the push to get out.
“We grabbed what we could. We didn’t know where we were gonna go, what exactly was going on,” mentioned Peterson.
Condo homeowners have completed their greatest to stay collectively, submitting a lawsuit towards vacationers insurance coverage for failing to pay claims, however a decide dominated towards them. The homeowners are interesting. Meanwhile, the town’s making an attempt to power rental homeowners to pay for the constructing to be demolished.
“Of course, we are all in financial straits, so for us to come up with that kind of cash on our own is next to impossible,” mentioned Peterson.
There’s a listening to in January the place a Waukesha County decide is predicted to think about demolition of the constructing.