Residents evacuated from moldy apartments

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Inspectors say at least a dozen apartments at Glenwood Trace in Battle Creek are unsanitary and unsafe.

Teams of code enforcement workers will spend the next four days at Glenwood Trace Apartments looking for unsafe conditions. Residents in 12 of the units have already been told to leave and others fear they could be next.

Residents at Glenwood Trace say mold has been a growing problem for years.

"It started down there and they say it traveled through the building and I have black mold in my basement," said resident Vivian Clark.

City inspectors tell Newschannel 3 this is the first they've heard of any mold issues at the complex. A tip last week led them to the buildings and what they found was not safe for those living there.

"There is a large amount of water that continues to enter in - presumably through the foundation," said Susan Bedsole, Licensing and Compliance Director for the City of Battle Creek.

"There was water which has turned into mold," said Bedsole.

50 units were determined to be unsanitary. 12 of them were occupied.

The type of mold has not been determined but now code enforcement teams will be checking the rest of the 184 apartments and town homes.

More evacuations are possible.

"Part of the order to vacate is for them to test both the mold itself and the air quality in all the buildings," said Bedsole.

Newschannel 3 was unable to get in touch with the owners of the complex.

Those who live there are wondering how much longer they will have a roof over their heads.

"We already paid rent for this month. We need our rent and deposit back but they can't even get a hold of the owners to find out how they're gonna help us," said Clark.

The first round of residents under evacuation must be out by Wednesday at 8:00 am. The owners of the complex can appeal at an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon.