BACKGROUND: In 2012, at least one resident at Greentree (this writer) fell on the back stairs when a step wasn't stable and it moved under their weight as they descended. In April 2013, a television crashed to the ground when movers attempting to go down the back stairs lost their balance as they stepped onto another unstable stair that moved under their weight. Also in 2013, at least one resident fell on the side stairs, again due to the instability of a step. Numerous residents report complaining and wondering when the stairs will be repaired, and in early June 2013, some of them approached Neighbor 2 Neighbor to discuss what could be done, as simply calling the UHS office to request maintenance wasn't getting the stairs fixed.
(April 13, 2013, TV that fell when faulty stair moved under weight of people descending.)
June 14 - 20, 2013 - Video and photos were shot documenting some of the problems with stairs and ramp access to the buildings and posted to this blog. The GALLERY page here has those photos and video footage.
June 26, 2013 - Neighbor2NeighborGT emailed a link to the video and photos posted here documenting the problems with the stairs and ramp to the Regional Property Manager at Urban Housing Solutions. An email response on the same day assured the issues would be addressed.
July 7, 2013 - We documented with video and photos new boards being in place for the ramp in front of building and a new railing on the back stairs. That post was here.
September 29, 2013 - A landing on the back stairs of Building A collapsed. Photos of that can be seen here.
September 30, 2013 - NewsChannel5 sent a team out to do a story about the collapse and efforts to get repairs. You can see that report here.
October 1, 2013 - Metro Nashville's office for building codes enforcement came out to inspect and initially posts the buildings as unsafe. However, by October 4, 2013, we had contacted our Metro councilman (Tony Tenpenny) and been assured that the codes department would work with the construction people and UHS to assure repairs could take place without displacing tenants. The post here documents the first week after the collapse.
October 2, 2013 - UHS sent Greentree residents a memo advising to "not overcrowd" the balconies, but no plan was announced for their replacement.
October 13, 2013 - Temporary stairs to be used for emergency purposes are in place for both Buildings A and B, as documented in photos here.
December 18, 2013 - No work was done between October 17 and December 18, as documented in the blog entry here, but a permit for construction goes up and work begins on new stairs on this date.
January 22, 2014 - Four months after the collapsed landing, new back stairs for Building A and side stairs for Building B are constructed and being used, as seen here.
April 9, 2014 - No work was done during February and March, but began again on April 9th to tear down and replace the front landing that connects the two buildings and the front stairs, as seen here.
April 20, 2014 - The new stairs and landing for the front were in place.
August 4, 2014 - No work was done during May, June, and July, but work began August 4 to replace the balconies, which had been found faulty after the landing collapse. Permit posted, work began, as documented here.
September 29, 2014 - Work to tear down and build replacement balconies for Building B (there were 12 to be done) appears to be complete, as several are being used now by tenants. It was eight weeks from the time the first two were torn down.
Also, residents in Building A received notice today that work is to begin on balconies for their building. Since the memo mentions inconvenience, we're hoping that means that the next round of people impacted won't have to endure the delays those in Building B did, with some of them living in airless apartments for two months while work was being done. Someone I know from the Gulf area likes to say "I've seen whole casinos go up quicker than this."
Photos below taken today of newly completed balconies for Building B, back and front.
