LELAND — Two separate injuries on the stairwell in an apartment building Wednesday morning led the Town of Leland to condemn an entire apartment complex.
Built in 2005, all 12 buildings in Brunswick Point Apartment Homes off West Gate Drive were evacuated Wednesday.
Structural issues identified in the stairwell caused two injuries in one of the complex’s buildings, located at 1008 Hunterstone Dr.
Leland building inspectors found structurally compromised stairways in the complex’s 11 other buildings during follow-up inspections Wednesday.
“In addition to safety concerns about the stairs themselves, there was also concern that residents in that building would not have a way to safely exit the building in the event of a fire or other emergency,” Leland Fire Chief Chris Langlois said in a press release.
Fire department or fire code officials have the authority to issue immediate evacuation if a building is deemed unsafe due to “hazardous conditions that present imminent danger to building occupants.”
Evacuated renters are being provided temporary housing from onsite property management at Brunswick Point, according to the town.
Within 10 days of providing notice of condemnation to the building, the owner is entitled to a hearing before an inspector, pursuant to N.C. general statute 160D-11-2. After the hearing, town inspection staff may order to “repair, close, vacate, or demolish” the structure, according to the law.
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