NEWS

Apartment complex where 4 died evacuated again

Boilers in building are going to be replaced, officials said

Adam Duvernay
The News Journal

Residents who returned to their apartments after four deaths on Friday have been told to leave again, according to New Castle County officials.

Building G of the Evergreen Apartments at Riverfront Heights near Elsmere had a boiler with rusted and collapsed ventilation, and Nancy Uniacke, Carl Dunfee, Veronica Mousely and Andrew Spanakos, aged 56 to 72, died inside their units there Friday.

Now the building is empty again.

“Building G at the Evergreen Apartments at Riverfront Heights has been evacuated by mutual agreement of the complex owner and New Castle County code enforcement officials,” James McDonald, county chief of staff, said through county spokeswoman robin brown Wednesday afternoon. “The county is releasing no additional information, pending the completion of the investigation of the incident, led by the New Castle County Police Department.”

A condemnation sign is posted at Evergreen Apartments at Riverfront Heights on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

She characterized it as a criminal investigation when reached Wednesday afternoon by The News Journal and also said the complex ownership is providing alternative housing for the surviving tenants who require it. Beyond that, she would provide no other details.

Building F, the building adjacent to Building G, is also being evacuated.

Evergreen Apartments representatives and Riverfront Heights management have routinely ignored calls for comment since the deaths, and on the rare instances reporters were able to reach someone they refused to comment.

Displaced residents of Evergreen Apartments at Riverfront Heights grab their belongings on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

On Wednesday evening people were still entering Buildings G and F, many to grab their belongings. A man named Jay, who declined to give his last name, said that the apartment complex was having the people evacuated from their homes stay at the Clarion Hotel near Minquadale. He went on to say that the apartment complex assured him all maintenance issues should be wrapped up by next Tuesday.

"I think for the most part, they want us gone so we don't create a distraction," he said.

A call to the Clarion Hotel confirmed that displaced residents were staying at the hotel. Riverfront Heights is expected to cover the costs.

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In a statement issued Saturday, Debra Burgos, vice president of complex owner Evergreen Apartment Group, said, "The cause of the tragedy appears to have been with the boiler exhaust pipe in Building G." The statement said residents could choose to stay in their apartments, and though evacuation was recommended she stressed there was no immediate life safety hazards, only quality-of-life concerns because of the lack of heat.

Frank Walsh, a New Castle County code enforcer, attaches condemnation signs to Building G and F of the Evergreen Apartments at Riverfront Heights on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control administrator Alex Rittberg said he toured the complex Monday and determined the state of the exhaust system in Building G forced waste gas from the boiler to enter the mechanical room, directly beneath the two apartments where people died, he said.

Two of the complex's boilers, including the one at Building G, are going to be replaced, Rittberg said.

Staff reporter Alonzo Small contributed to this story.

Contact Adam Duvernay at (302) 319-1855 or aduvernay@delawareonline.com