'Owner less than responsive' | DC Officials say residents displaced because of explosion should be looking for new homes

While the media was not allowed to attend, prior to the town hall, D.C. officials shared some information and took questions on a call with reporters.

Director of the District of Columbia Department of Buildings Brian Hanlon said that on Sept. 20, emergency crews responded to 1433 Columbia Road NW, and found that three units had been damaged. He said the gas and electricity were turned off.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the building was deemed uninhabitable," said Hanlon.

He said at the scene that they attempted to contact the building's owner.

"In this case, we made an outreach to the owner and did not hear back so the Department of General Services stepped up and contracted with a plumber to assess the gas and utilities in the building. The plumber determined that there were multiple valves gas meters that appeared to not be able to withhold the pressure for the service," said Hanlon.

He said that Washington Gas was on scene and involved in the process.

"There was further testing to the entire piping system. They did pressure testing and this indicated potential leaks in gas lines throughout the buildings," said Hanlon, adding "Washington Gas since then has not allowed gas to be restored out of an abundance of caution".

He said extensive repairs are need, which would include tearing down walls and replacing pipes.

"This is a privately owned property and it is the owner's responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment," said Hanlon.

He explained on Wednesday night that the gas will not be restored to the building until the gas lines are fixed. Only then, he said, "the electricity can be turned on the building can be deemed habitable."

As for the what happens to the tenants, Tamela Tolton from the Office of the Tenant Advocate, shared that they have been given temporary housing. She said about 100 tenants were displaced, and have been given rooms at two local hotels.

However, their temporary stay will end on Oct. 11.

"That will give them 21 days, which exceeds the normal policy of 14 days," said Tolton.

She shared that they will provide them services like transportation for moving their belongings to storage facilities in the next 60 days. She said they'll give them boxes and tape.

"We have extended a great deal of money on this particular event. To date it's about $120,000," she said.

Tolton said tenants will receive a letter from the Office of the Tenant Advocate Wednesday, that provides them with their rights.

"As tenants of this property, they are tenants and remain tenants of the property. They do not have to leave the building if they choose not to," said Tolton.

The building was built in 1926 and qualifies as a rent-controlled housing development, according to Tolton.

"As a result of that, tenants have a right to return once the building has been deemed habitable once again. They do not have to pay rent effective September the 20th, because their tenancy is terminated temporarily due to the disaster recovery incident," said Tolton.

"The District is providing five buckets of support to our residents," said Clint Osborn, the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

He said that all of the residents will get the information and contact info during the meeting Wednesday night.

They shared that the inspection history shows there aren't a lot of complaints.

"There haven't been a lot of complaints generated out of this building for three years," said Hanlon.

He explained that they did a proactive inspection and recently had very few complaints.

"I want to stress that it is the owner, the landlord's responsibility to maintain the building in proper working order," said Hanlon. 

He said that they issued a correction order as of Wednesday.

"A correction order puts in the owners hands the responsibility to provide a plan for correction, to address these problems in the building and get it back to us, the Department of Building within 7 days, 7 calendar days," said Hanlon.

He said the plan needs to demonstrate "the ability to execute the correction within 60 days". 

"If they require more time and can demonstrate a reason why, we would work with them cooperatively, but we want them to act with a sense of urgency," said Hanlon.

He said the owner has not been very responsive.

"I would characterize the owner as being 'less than responsive'. On the day of the incident, I think the answer is very unresponsive. Since then there have been some conversations, but they have not acted decisively nor have they produced a plan," said Hanlon.

He said the owner has four rental properties. WUSA9 asked if the city has received complaints about this owner, in regard to any of their properties.

"In terms of the notice of infraction history on this portfolio. It's not extensive. It's relatively light and that, I believe, is due to residents not calling in complaints. We encourage residents to call us through our portal, so that we can be made aware," said Hanlon.

He said inspections are scheduled at the owner's other properties on Oct. 8.

WUSA9 asked what happens to the tenants beyond Oct. 11, if the repairs aren't made.

"Well clearly, the tenants should be in the process now of looking for temporary housing solutions, given the report coming from DOB. It's clear that they will not be able to return on Oct. 11," said Tolton.

They said tenants will be connected with housing navigation and counseling to help them find temporary housing.

"By law, when the tenants are moving in to a temporary location, they are to provide my office with that location, so that we know where they are," said Tolton.

She said that by getting that information to the Office of the Tenant Advocate, the office will be able to let the tenants know when the repairs are made and they are able to return.