Arson Fire Victim,
Donation protected
On March 2nd 2014 at my condo complex at 755 Wethersfield Ave. in Hartford Ct. there was a revenge arson attack. I was not the target of that attack. A car parked under the building was covered in gasoline and set a blaze. http://www.wfsb.com/story/24863068/fire-dispaces-dozens-in-hartfords-south-end I lost my car and was displaced out of my home with 49 other familys living in the building. The fire did not look like it had done huge amounts of damage, at first. We were told we be back in the building by June of 2014. I spent 2 months living at Homewood Suites on Asylum Street in downtown Hartford. Then we were told, there was in fact major structual damage to steel beams that support the building. Smoke from 4 burning cars followed building plumbing and electrical inside the walls. The building was going need taken down to studs. The electrical system was on the other side of the wall near the fire melted.
So started the condo association, the public adjustor, the city of Hartford and insurence company arguing over what was going to be done. We were then told the building would not fixed until Nov 1 of 2014.
So I had rented a furnished apartment in Nashville Tn. It was far cheaper than a furnished apartment in greater Hartford. Its all good I had homeowners insurance to cover it.
No work had begun in building as parties could not agree as to what work was needed to be done.
The City of Hartford decided this was time, to have building brought up to currant building codes. Example they wanted all fuse boxes movered from inside closet to outer walls. The list goes on and on. There was $200,000 in actual damage. The city want another 1.3 million dollars worth of changes done to the building.
The building was converted to condos in 1973. It was NOT in disrepair or unsafely out of code.
In August of 2014, the building was broken into for the 6th time since the fire. All the copper pipes and wiring was stolen along all the major appliances. The 50 bathrooms and kitchens were destroyed and baseboard heating system was gone.
No work actually began in the building until late Sept of 2014. That cleaning up the damage done in 6 break ins, in the building happened first. We were told that work would be done Jan 1, 2015. We be able to move back in.
With no heat in building, work came a stand still as one of the coldest and snowest winters in decades set in. It did not warm up until late March of 2015. We were told then the building would completed no later than June 30th.
On June 17th I found out the work would not be completed by the 30th. To make matters worse my homeowners insurance has reached the maximuim payment limit on June 30th as well. I have no more coverage.
So I am paying for house I can not live in. I can not afford to pay for 2 homes. I can not refinance or get home equity loan on my condo as its condemed building until the city of Hartford issues a new certificate of occupancy. My only saving is my equity in my home that I owned since 1989.
I rented a bed in hostel until July the 8th. Past that date, I have no where to live.
If I stop paying my other bills in order to pay for temporary housing; I will start a financial death spiral that will result in me losing everything. The worse part is they can't even tell me for sure when it will be done. It could still be months.
The latest delay is the city now wants sound proofing in the walls causing new sheet rock to ripped out, and while the fire marshal approved the sprinkler system, the building department rejected it. Back to the drawing board.
That an example of why this has been taking so long, in addition to the break ins and the weather.
Should I meet or exceed the fundraising goal, I will only use money for temporary housing. If there money left once I can get back in my home. I will donate that money to aid people who are homeless.
Please help me, I am desperate and time is running out.
If you have any questions please email me.
God bless you for taking the time to read this.
Thank you,
Paul Edward Zukowski
So started the condo association, the public adjustor, the city of Hartford and insurence company arguing over what was going to be done. We were then told the building would not fixed until Nov 1 of 2014.
So I had rented a furnished apartment in Nashville Tn. It was far cheaper than a furnished apartment in greater Hartford. Its all good I had homeowners insurance to cover it.
No work had begun in building as parties could not agree as to what work was needed to be done.
The City of Hartford decided this was time, to have building brought up to currant building codes. Example they wanted all fuse boxes movered from inside closet to outer walls. The list goes on and on. There was $200,000 in actual damage. The city want another 1.3 million dollars worth of changes done to the building.
The building was converted to condos in 1973. It was NOT in disrepair or unsafely out of code.
In August of 2014, the building was broken into for the 6th time since the fire. All the copper pipes and wiring was stolen along all the major appliances. The 50 bathrooms and kitchens were destroyed and baseboard heating system was gone.
No work actually began in the building until late Sept of 2014. That cleaning up the damage done in 6 break ins, in the building happened first. We were told that work would be done Jan 1, 2015. We be able to move back in.
With no heat in building, work came a stand still as one of the coldest and snowest winters in decades set in. It did not warm up until late March of 2015. We were told then the building would completed no later than June 30th.
On June 17th I found out the work would not be completed by the 30th. To make matters worse my homeowners insurance has reached the maximuim payment limit on June 30th as well. I have no more coverage.
So I am paying for house I can not live in. I can not afford to pay for 2 homes. I can not refinance or get home equity loan on my condo as its condemed building until the city of Hartford issues a new certificate of occupancy. My only saving is my equity in my home that I owned since 1989.
I rented a bed in hostel until July the 8th. Past that date, I have no where to live.
If I stop paying my other bills in order to pay for temporary housing; I will start a financial death spiral that will result in me losing everything. The worse part is they can't even tell me for sure when it will be done. It could still be months.
The latest delay is the city now wants sound proofing in the walls causing new sheet rock to ripped out, and while the fire marshal approved the sprinkler system, the building department rejected it. Back to the drawing board.
That an example of why this has been taking so long, in addition to the break ins and the weather.
Should I meet or exceed the fundraising goal, I will only use money for temporary housing. If there money left once I can get back in my home. I will donate that money to aid people who are homeless.
Please help me, I am desperate and time is running out.
If you have any questions please email me.
God bless you for taking the time to read this.
Thank you,
Paul Edward Zukowski
Organizer
Paul Pez Zukowski
Organizer
Nashville, TN