Dozens displaced after Merrillville apartments deemed unsafe; resident photos show mold, cracks

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) -- Dozens of residents in northwest Indiana were being forced from their homes on Wednesday morning.

The Merrillville Fire Department shut down two buildings in the Hickory Ridge Lake Apartments in the 5600 block of Hayes Street after they were deemed unsafe and unlivable.

A fire inspector followed up on several complaints and found an exterior of one the buildings bowed.

"The brick front wall of one building had buckled outward, so the building has become structurally compromised," Police Chief Kosta Nuses said.

The fire department also noticed extensive mold in one of the buildings.

"And they went to the next building just north of it, and that one was full of mold, too, so everyone in that building had to be evacuated," Nuses said.

The police department was called to the scene at about 9:30 a.m. to help evacuate the buildings, and all tenants were safely removed.

"It is an imminent danger. The wall could come down, so we set up a collapse zone and lock the doors," said Fire Chief Edward Yerga.

There are 48 units in the affected buildings, and 12 families have been displaced.

Images shared by residents show floor-to-ceiling mold in some units, water leaking from air conditioning units, a chronic bug infestation, and filthy stairwells and hallways that neighbors say management ignored for years.

"I went out and bought a shampoo cleaner to shampoo the rug, and we was all taking turns to keep the hallway and stuff clean," said resident Delisa Jones.

But the residents being forced to leave with almost no notice are in a precarious position. Kyle Matchinis said he could end up homeless.

"I've been calling for months about the grass, the garbage. I've called the city. I called the office. I called the property management company. I called attorneys. Nobody's doing nothing," Matchinis said. "Heard a pound on my door from the fire department this morning. We all go to get out of here."

Rent for one and two bedroom units range from $850 to $1,300. Tenants say there's been overflowing trash dumpsters and overgrown grass on the property for months, and that conditions of the units are even worse.

"Her laundry area, the ceiling area is caving in," said Ladonna Reed, whose daughter lives in the complex with her 4-year-old son. "There's mold around bottom of the walls. The grass hasn't been cut, garbage."

Attempts to reach the management of the complex were unsuccessful.

"So, it's been a bad situation for a while. I think after today, you will see a new difference," said Merrillville Councilman Leonard White.

But, some longtime residents said they were told the property, which they say has been in decline for years, was being sold to a new owner soon. Many are angry they didn't get any help until now.

"It's been mold, nobody picking up trash. I've got two kids. I'm just a single father and I shouldn't be paying $1,100 a month," said resident Devante Harris.

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities said it's possible that other buildings in the complex could be condemned as well. That's concerning to resident and part-time nurse Minnie Nero, who, at this point, has nowhere else to go.

"I don't live like this," Nero said.

The Ross Township Trustee's Office and the American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.

"The city did their job. They came out. They sent the fire marshal out. They sent code enforcement out. They wrote tickets to the apartment complex," said Ross Township Trustee Eric Blackmon.

Anyone affected by this incident can contact the Ross Township Trustee's Office at 219-769-2111 or the American Red Cross at 219-756-5360. The American Red Cross also setup a shelter at a nearby community center.