“No doubt the City of Richmond has done the right thing in condemning Stuart Court Apartments. A March report highlights the unsafe conditions of the building, including fire-escape problems and the lack of sprinkler and fire-alarm systems.
The apartment building housing 57 occupants at the northwest corner of Lombardy and Monument may not adhere to the city’s building code, but why did Richmond officials choose May 2 for tenants to vacate the premises?
Many of those who live at Stuart Court are VCU students. The university begins its exams schedule on May 5, three days after Stuart Court residents would have been given the boot. Exams are chaotic enough. Why add to the students’ burden? It’s not their fault their landlords failed to meet the expectations of the code.
The city has safety on his mind – and it should.
But is it too much to ask to change the mandated move-out date to, say, May16?”
Editorial Page
Richmond Times-Dispatch
April 18, 2005
Although these words were written by a Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial writer, many VCU students are asking the same questions.
“I was pretty shocked when I found out the building was being condemned because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with my apartment,” said Katherine Robinson, a junior psychology major who lives on the third floor of the Stuart Court Apartments.
Like many other students in the 64-apartment building, Robinson must move by May 2, after receiving notice less than a month ago that the building didn’t meet the city’s code requirements regarding fire safety.
The city cited the 81-year-old building for having an insufficient fire escape, no smoke alarm or sprinkler system and not enough fire exits. The city condemned the building, which must be vacated until it is can meet the code requirements or demolished.
Richmond Fire Department officials said Tuesday that the owner of the building is appealing the case Thursday, April 21, to the technical review board, which will examine the code.
Robinson said she was upset when she learned she would have to move out so quickly so close to exams. Not only did the city’s condemnation surprise her, but she said she did not notice significant damage while moving into the apartment.
“I knew there was water damage in some of them but there wasn’t any in ours,” Robinson said.
Tom Nickle, a junior undeclared major who lives in the building, said he, too, did not notice anything wrong with the apartment while moving in.
“The things that are wrong are things you should have noticed but didn’t because you’d think the city takes care of these things,” he said.
Although Nickle considers the situation inconvenient, he said residents should understand and be compliant.
“I just think the timing is horrible, however, our safety has to come first,” he said.
Robinson said she noticed a flier in the elevator of the apartment building notifying students of on-campus housing availabilities at VCU.
Reuben Rodriguez, associate vice provost and dean of student affairs, confirmed Robinson’s statement, saying students are being notified of vacancies in the dormitories and can contact the housing office for assistance.
“Certainly it’s very difficult on students,” Rodriguez said. “We never want students to be in that type of situation at any point in the year, but that’s why we try to provide information for students. They need to be aware of safety, security and environmental issues when they’re looking for a place to rent.”