BELMONT, MASS. (WHDH) - Around 75 residents have been displaced after a seven-story condo building in Belmont was evacuated on Thursday due to structural concerns, officials said.
The building at 125 Trapelo Road was reportedly inspected by a structural engineering firm after residents noticed cracks in its structure. After receiving a preliminary synopsis of the findings, Great Property Management CEO Lou Gargiulo, in conjunction with the trustees of the condominium association, decided to contact the Belmont Fire Department and evacuate all 42 condos in the building.
A woman who lives there recorded cellphone video of the spreading crack in her sixth floor apartment a little more than two weeks ago.
She sent it to her landlord, who notified the building management company, great north. They hired an engineer to come to check the building.
“We investigated concerns that were expressed, retained a structural engineering firm, and took their recommendations,” said Gargiulo. “The safety of our residents is our most primary concern.”
Emergency responders say with the recent collapse in Florida still fresh in their minds, residents did the right thing by reporting what they saw.
“I came home and I got everything that we could and we are waiting for a place to stay overnight because probably it will take until tomorrow or until Monday, we don’t know yet,” said resident Nate Madeiros.
The roof of the building had been sold to a telecommunications company, according to Gargiulo. A preliminary report indicated that the equipment on the roof, such as antennas, could potentially be the cause of the structural issues, though it is currently unclear.
“They just keep putting more and more equipment. There’s no limitation. They don’t care about the people living in the building,” said Bai Fang, whose family was evacuated from the building.
Now, dozens of frustrated residents are unsure where they are going to sleep. Red Cross officials say this does not qualify as a natural disaster and that fact limits the ways they can help.
“I feel like I did the right thing but now I’m just worried about everyone involved getting the help they need at this point,” the woman who submitted the original video said.
It is unclear when residents will be able to return to the condo building.
An investigation remains ongoing.
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