WORCESTER – Insurance companies and engineering experts will investigate the cause of a roof collapse at a Mill Street apartment complex earlier this month, according to the City of Worcester.
All 32 units at the Pond View apartment homes at 267 Mill St. were evacuated on July 15 after a pallet of roofing material fell through the roof and down three stories into the building’s basement. No injuries were reported. The complex is located directly behind Mill Street Motors.
Senior Building Inspector David Carl, Deputy Building Commissioner David Horne, and Commissioner of Inspectional Services Chris Spencer, and a structural engineer from Veitas & Veitas Engineers, Inc. of Braintree reviewed a report of the collapse and all agreed the structural issues were isolated to five separate apartments.
The City is allowing residents to go into the building to retrieve their belongings. A floor plan was established and barriers were installed to ensure that the five apartments in question aren’t able to be accessed.
A housing court judge and housing specialists are working with the tenants and property owners on individual agreements on removal of all furniture and personal contents. Interior gutting of the building will take place once the tenants’ belongings have been removed.
“Nothing can prepare one for the unexpected and immeasurable loss of being left unhoused and without their personal and important belongings,” acting city manager Eric Batista said. “The City of Worcester offers its support, care and concern for all of the residents of the Pond View Apartment Homes that were impacted by the building’s partial roof collapse on July 15. I am incredibly grateful for the collaboration with and assistance from our partner agencies who were on the ground with us on day one and continue to offer compassionate care and resources for these residents.”
The City is working with the Central Mass Housing Alliance, the United Way of Central Massachusetts and their affiliates and other partner agencies on relief and support for those displaced.
