Lowry Apartment Tenants In St. Paul Ordered Out Of Temporary Housing, Told They Won't Return To Their Apartments

Lowry Apartment Tenants In St. Paul Ordered Out Of Temporary Housing, Told They Won't Return To Their Apartments

The latest twist in the saga involving the now-condemned apartment building in downtown Saint Paul potentially leaves dozens homeless.

SAINT PAUL, Minn — Vans parked outside the enVision hotel in Saint Paul on Monday loaded up belongings and took people to temporary homeless shelters.

It's the latest development in the saga involving the Lowry Apartments, which were condemned earlier this month, after many months of deteriorating living conditions.

"Cockroaches, human feces. Prostitution in the stairwells going on," said Will Zenaty, who lived in the Lowry for about two years. "And they threw us to the wolves."

Will Zenaty appreciated the 30-day voucher he received to temporarily move to the hotel. He was under the impression his apartment would be fixed and ready for him to move back into at that point.

But then he, like every other Lowry tenant, was told their time at the hotel is done and they received this notice terminating their tenancy at the Lowry as well.

"I'm just super aggravated that they said they were going to put us in this envision hotel for 30 days and we've only been here 19,"

Will says instead of taking a ride to a shelter, he is going to buy a tent.

"So I'm going to get a tent. Tomorrow, I'm going to set it up right in front of my old building. And whatever they want to do with me, do with me. And I'm going to set that tent back up in front of my building, like this is where I live,"

"They should be able to live in a humane way," said Ervena Carter from the nonprofit Experience of Neshama.

Carter is trying to get Will more permanent housing.

Regarding the dozens of people now left homeless, Carter explains why the closing of the Lowry makes it much more difficult to help those tenants find new housing.

"It worked for those who had criminal backgrounds or those with a lack of rental housing history. But now it might take a little longer to get those with backgrounds housed and back into housing again," she said.

Mayor Melvin Carter's office released the following statement:

"Temporary emergency housing arrangements for residents of The Lowry concludes Monday, December 30. Ramsey County Housing Stability Department is available to assist individuals who do not have alternative housing options. Residents will also be able to work with the receiver to retrieve any personal belongings. The City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County continue to partner to support residents by providing resources and referrals.

The Lowry building is condemned and in foreclosure. As the court-ordered building receiver, Halverson and Blaiser Group is the acting landlord and building manager, responsible for the Lowry and its tenants. Additional questions should be directed to HBG management."

SOURCE: KARE 11