An early morning fire gutted the Erie Square apartment complex on Euclid avenue in Cleveland. No one was reported injured but the fire displaced dozens of residents. The complex is under the management of Cleveland Housing Network (CHN).

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

An early morning fire gutted the Erie Square apartment complex on Euclid avenue in Cleveland. No one was reported injured but the fire displaced dozens of residents. The complex is under the management of Cleveland Housing Network (CHN).

Erie Square Apartments is an 89-unit family apartment complex located at 7711 Euclid Avenue. The 45-unit west wing was totally destroyed, and the first floor of its 44-unit east wing had water damage, the residents have accepted the west wing will probably be torn down but many just want to get their items.

Rachel Mixon, vice president of the Erie Square Apartment tenants association, said work crews were on the second floor installing wiring for the new security system right before the fire happen.

CHN went on record saying they provided temporary housing for the residents, but never told of an eviction from one hotel only to have the inspector tell them they could not come back to Erie Square.

Residents were then sent by CHN to a motel that had mold and bed bugs. “I refuse to stay there,” said one resident. Residents have been meeting with Councilman TJ Dow who has been trying very hard to help the residents. “Councilman Dow has done a good job,” said Mixon.

Many calls have been made to Robert Curry at CHN said the residents, who say he never calls back. While at Erie Square Apartments the Call & Post called Curry and he had someone else call back for him.

CHN is Northeast Ohio’s largest community development organization and energy conservation provider. Their mission is to develop affordable housing for low-and moderate-income Clevelanders with a special emphasis on generating pathways out of poverty and providing homeownership opportunities.

Residents have seen contractors and other unknown workers entering the building that they are not allowed in, removing the resident’s personal items. The security company has not been that good providing security, they shouted.

While meeting with the residents, the Call & Post was informed about problems with the buildings long before the fire happen. One resident said he asked for a pipe to be fixed in his apartment over a year ago. “Each time they come they have another excuse why they can not fix it,” he stated.

A few residents shared that CHN had threatened that if they talked to any Media CHN would evict them. The C&P called CHN and they assured us that would not happen. Michael L. Nelson Sr. a well known activist and attorney is representing the residents at Erie Square.

“I am very concern about CHN’s plans for relocation, as well as the security of their personal effects. It’s not right the way CHN are doing these people with elevators not working causing disabled residents to struggle up and down stairs. I feel that CHN and HUD need to pay closer attention to what’s going on,” said Nelson.

CHN Board chair Krume Stojanovski shared these sentiments with the Call & Post in a phone conversation, “We are currently looking to see what our insurance will do about the building. We have helped give the residents a place to stay. We are not in the business of not helping.”

“Even with residents wanting to take their voucher and move to another location, it is not possible due to the vouchers being tied to the building,” said a CHN spokeman. CHN said they have tried very hard to assist the residents.

“In general we are pretty good about helping people, and I am very concerned about the residents at Erie Square and we are doing the best we can to help them,” Krume said.

In a letter sent to Rob Curry at CHN, Nelson asked for a meeting to discuss the many problems the tenants have been having there.