Waterford Landing, Hoover, Alabama – Here Comes The Bus

I have had the pleasure to spend the past 14 months living in a rental community [Waterford Landing], in Hoover, Alabama.  ”Sweet Home Alabama” they say around here.  I still remember the day I was apartment hunting.  It was very hot and muggy.  Felt worse than Florida, humid, yet dry heat from above.  The bay-view windows sold me on this place.  I will have a post dedicated on my move [to Alabama] at a later time.  Here Comes The Bus.

There is just so much to talk about when it comes to Waterford Landing Apartments, that one post is not enough to run a bus over the management company of this community.  But I wish to share some of the most recent experiences.

On Fourth of July, this nation’s Independence Day, residents were having a party in one of the apartments on the third floor [which is the top floor].  At some point throughout the night, 7 people were reported to be hanging out on the balcony.  Rumors are that there might have been as many as 9 individuals.  At that point, as the story goes, the balcony collapsed, sending everyone to the ground.  One dead, two in critical condition, two seriously hurt, one or two with broken bones, and a rumor of two leaving the scene.

What a tragedy!  To leave this world due to lack of maintenance of the place one calls Home.  This ain’t no Sweet Home Alabama!  This is beyond any excuses.  The city reports that they approve all new construction, but once a building is certified, it is up to the management company to maintain it, without any checks or balances from the city – until it is too late.

I can also attest to the condition of the stair cases going up and down to the apartments.  The majority of the wood used is 15+ years, as old as the buildings.  It has never been treated with anything to withstand the elements.  Boards are flopping and being held by an average of 10 nails, if not more – but still not enough.  An accident waiting to happen?  I grasp myself going up and down on daily bases.

Notices were posted on all apartments, approximately two weeks after the incident [on 4th of July], warning residents not to use their balconies due to their hazardous condition.  Why the long wait before people were warned?  The collapsed structure was blocked off [and still is], with ply wood panels, and surrounded by yellow caution tape.  A Hoover PD officer is on duty watching the site 24-hours.  That’s gotta cost the local tax payers thousands of dollars.  Believe it or not, the posted officer does not deter crime, but that is a separate post.

Approximately three weeks after the 4th of July even, another set of balconies collapse.  At a different building within Waterford Landing.  Inspections were not even completed.  At this point, multiple buildings have lost balconies, one person has died, multiple families scarred for life – and the management company has not done much but give [so far] empty promises.

As of August 28th, almost two months after the tragic event, no work is evident of any kind.  A couple of weeks ago I witnessed a crew of three working on the facia of a building, but staying away from the balconies.  The management company was quoted in a news story done by local ABC News crew that repairs were going to happen immediately.  Does that word [immediately] mean something different besides right away or now, here in Alabama?

A huge lawsuit is under way towards Engel Residential Management company by those directly effected.  I expect this could possibly leading to the enactment of ordinances and/or perhaps new laws locally or state-wide.  It all depends on how far the lawsuit can go and how deep of packets Engel Residential has.

Pictures to come.