Residents Of North Miami Building Where Roof Collapsed Remain Displaced
NORTH MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The more-than 200 people displaced from a North Miami building Thursday after heavy rains caused electrical damage, flooding, and partial roofs to collapse have been allowed back in their apartments—but only to retrieve necessary items.
The Gold King Apartment complex, an 80-unit building located at 13285 NE 6 Avenue, was having work done on the roof Christmas Eve. But, as workers took Christmas day off, the heavy rains made its way down through the building, causing residents to be evacuated.
Seventeen of the approximately 260 people, according to the Red Cross, stayed at the shelter provided—the Universal Truth Church at 21310 NW 37 Avenue.
The Red Cross plans to keep the shelter open for the next few nights and expects more displaced residents to register and stay Friday night.
Residents are being allowed into their apartments to get items but are still not allowed to stay inside the building.
"They're gonna go one-by-one inside to get some stuff. So its lucky for me so I can get some clothes this morning to wear," said Analia Silencias, a frustrated displaced resident of the building.
The city says the building remains unsafe and residents haven't been told when they will be able to return.
On Thursday, the building manager didn't want to speak to CBS4's Gary Nelson but certainly heard a handful from the frustrated tenants.
State records list and owner of the apartments as Allen Chelminsky. Records show members of the Chelminsky family own a number of apartment and condo buildings. According to court records, some of those buildings were the subject of foreclosure suits, but the Gold King Apartment building was not one of them.
Chelminsky was not able to be reached at his listed phone number or address Thursday night.
