Luck has varied for the tenants of 111 Arlington Ave. one week after the city suddenly repossessed their apartment building for nonpayment of property taxes.
For Katherine Grimm, the former landlady, luck has held up. After being temporarily put up in a hotel with her tenants by the Red Cross and then by the Mayor’s Action Bureau, Grimm has found lodging with a friend until she can locate permanent housing.
Alex Mohleak has not been as fortunate as Grimm.
"I’ve been sleeping in an alleyway since the weekend," said Mohleak on Tuesday. Red Cross had been able to provide shelter for him and the other tenants at the Hilltop Hotel for three days, but that was only temporary. Since that time, Mohleak has stopped at the houses of friends in order to clean up and make phone calls, he said. With him are two dogs and three cats.
"I could just crash at a friend’s place until I find a place, but I can’t put the animals in a shelter," Mohleak said, explaining his dilemma. "I don’t want these animals put down. I can’t impose on my friends."
Mohleak stated he has a number of disabilities, including severe asthma, hypertension and pain from previous vertebrae fracture. He added that he had medication for his aliments, but his health problems made getting around even more difficult.
However, as of Friday, Lydia Gerrado of the Mayor’s Action Bureau said she has not heard from any of the evicted tenants. Tenants seeking help can call (201) 547-4900.
Mohleak was able, the Monday after his eviction, to briefly reenter the 111 Arlington Ave. apartment.
"I had a half an hour to get my stuff out," said Mohleak. "I needed more time than that."
A group of friends helped get many of Mohleak’s belongs out of his apartment.
Mohleak said he wanted to remain in contact with the other tenants at 111 Arlington Ave. He said that he had filed a show cause order before the eviction last week and needs the other tenants when the case comes before a judge. Mohleak did not know when that was going to be.
At the time of the interview, Mohleak was still looking for shelter and not enjoying his life in the streets.
"You get extremely filthy really fast sleeping in an alley," Mohleak said. "I don’t endorse living in the street to anyone."
Katherine Grimm, the landlord, said she lived in the Arlington Avenue apartment since 1989, having purchased it two years earlier. Since then, Grimm said, she had been brought to court three times by city for health code violations, having been cited for the improper disposal of animal waste. In all three cases, the charges were dismissed.
Grimm has not been back to the apartment since the eviction.
"I did hear that Alex got back into the apartment for a little while," said Grimm.
Grimm has had little contact with her tenants since the eviction.
She did not seem so upset by her relocation.
"Since I left that area, I haven’t heard the ‘F’ word used once," Grimm declared.