Condo Owners Struggle with "Lost Community" Following Fire

Residents of condominiums destroyed in a 6 alarm fire nearly a year ago have been left stranded while they attempt to get authorization to rebuild on the site.

"(We've) lost this community. We were living very close to each other," said Lake Williams Condominium Trustee Kelly Hilcoff who had owned a condo in the affected portion of the complex since 2004. "You see these people every day and now we have been dispersed out among other places. Kids have lost their friends they have played with on a daily basis."

A section of the condominium, housing 32 families, was that called six additional fire departments to the scene.

"It was horrific. The fire was terrible.," said Heather McGuire who owns one of the condos and got married days after the fire. "Now it's been a year and we still are displaced ... we still got married and are happily married."

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The association has been fighting the city to allow the damaged condominiums to be rebuilt. Building Commissioner Mike Mendoza ruled that the condo complex was made up of two buildings, and due to the catastrophic damage to the one building it would require a special permit from the City Council to be rebuilt.

"I think the building commissioner misinterpreted the law," said Sandra Austin, an attorney representing the Lake Williams Condominium Trust. "It was built as one building and has been functioning as one building."

While the issue is being worked out between lawyers and the city, the former residents of the condo have been left to pay mortgages on a concrete slab, said Hilcoff. Condo owners cited not only the financial strain of paying a mortgage for somewhere they could not live, but the continued uncertainty with the situation.

Wanda Almengot will soon need to renew her lease on the apartment she has been renting since the fire and she is uncertain of how long to sign on for.

"My life has been put on hold," she said. "The uncertainty is very stressful ... it's definitely stressful and it's frustrating."

State Representative Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough), representatives from the office of State Senator James Eldridge (D-Acton) and a representative from the office of U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas were present at the condominium complex on Friday.

"I've been here through the process helping the residents navigate," said Gregoire who acknowledged that there is not much that can be done at the state level. "We want to be here as a sign of support for these folks. This is an easy opportunity for the city to have a win supporting working families."

The issue is set to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday night.