Ousted River Place residents stay on site
Some former residents of River Place Residence said they aren't sure of their next steps — and are currently staying in tents on the building's lawn — after the building was vacated and boarded up Wednesday morning.
About 20 residents were camped on the lawn at 245 Detroit St. Wednesday, after a prohibition of occupancy order came into effect Tuesday at midnight.
“We packed, not that much really. I wasn't sure when (the police) were coming, and so midnight hit and we sat there, like `are they coming?' Every siren we heard. And they didn't,” said Shawna Mcfadden, one of several River Place residents now camping on the property.
Police arrived around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, several people said, though they appeared to be observing and “keeping the peace” on the property.
“The Windsor Police Service can confirm our attendance at 245 Detroit St. at the request of the City of Windsor building department,” said Const. Darius Goze, the department's public information officer.
“The Windsor Police assisted City of Windsor personnel in ensuring that the building had been vacated while ensuring the safety of all individuals.”
The building was deemed unsafe by city officials in early July, citing issues including a lack of running water and working fire alarms. The building was ordered closed July 15 with the deadline of midnight Tuesday for residents to leave. City officials said some issues were fixed but others, like running water, couldn't be maintained.
“My hope is that this property can eventually be redeemed,” said John Revell, the city's chief building official, in a statement when the building was deemed unsafe. “The City of Windsor has several incentives available through the planning department to support redevelopment and turn this into a success in the Sandwich community.”
City officials have said they are working with those who still need help finding new accommodation, and residents can go to the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub at 400 Wyandotte Street East for extra assistance.
Michael Thiele, a lawyer representing owner Yelong Li, said his client had representatives on site Wednesday as the building was vacated, and is aware of the residents camped on the property.
“There is always recourse for trespassing, but there is no rush to go that route,” Thiele said. “A big thing happened today so for now we're going to cool off. It's undoubtedly a traumatic experience for people.
“We're hopeful people will have a place to go ... with the right support for the individual.”
Mcfadden said while she and her husband, both living at River Place, had relatively few belongings, she was up late helping others move their things out of the building. She also has her beloved dog, Bella, which she said complicates finding a new place to go.
“I'm exhausted, my eyes are heavy. No one has any answers,” she said, adding she spoke with social workers and outreach staff have been on site recently. “I have no idea (what comes next). None of (the shelters) will take both of us, let alone just me, with Bella.”
Tammy-lynn Chapman, a peer support worker helping many former residents of the building, said she and others worked through the night to move people out before the building was boarded up. Many of the remaining residents can't or won't access the shelter system for a variety of reasons, she said.
“They are so vulnerable, their belongings are all on display,” Chapman said. “For right now, they have nowhere to go.”