WILKINSBURG, Pa. -- Residents of a small Wilkinsburg apartment building that was badly damaged by a fire were given two hours Tuesday to retrieve their belongings from the boarded-up property.
Some of the people who lived in the building on Center Street have moved their things onto the sidewalk near the corner of Rebecca Avenue because they say they have nowhere to go.
Apparently, they thought property owner Brandywine Realty was going to help them find a place to live until the building can be brought up to code -- currently, no utilities may be turned on -- but that hasn't happened.
"I don't know where the things we have out on the sidewalk is going to go, and where my child and I is going to go," said Rita Smith. "Brandywine's not helping us. They ain't even trying to put us in another unit or nothing. They just basically left us out here, boarded up our homes and told us to get out."
Mayor John Thompson showed up late Tuesday afternoon and helped the people move some of their items. He said the borough will try to find alternate housing for them on Wednesday.
A voicemail left by WTAE Channel 4 Action News with a Brandywine manager has not been returned yet.
The cause of the June 9 fire is still under investigation. The Red Cross had been helping 14 people who lived in the two-story, eight-unit building, but that temporary assistance has ended.
Wilkinsburg Fire Chief Owen McAfee said the displaced residents can call him if they need to get back inside the apartments after the two-hour window.
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
