tenants evacuated from Lachine building due to fire risk
Vera Nikolajew was halfway through her shift at McDonald's last Thursday when she received an urgent message: she had to evacuate her apartment that night. There was no explanation, no warning, just a notification from a neighbour.
"I panicked," she said. "I left work early, went home and saw this big, red bus outside my building. Authorities had closed off the area. It felt like we were criminals."
Nikolajew, a resident of 3480 Ivan-Franko St. in Lachine, hurried upstairs to gather her belongings: a few bags, a change of clothes, and, most importantly, her cat, Cuddles.
She was one of approximately 35 tenants ordered to leave that evening due to an imminent fire risk resulting from months of neglect that left the building in disrepair. Residents were forced to rely on ovens and unsafe space heaters for warmth. Meanwhile, the landlord, residents, and local officials claimed he had been unreachable for months.
The tenants are now scattered in temporary housing, uncertain when—or if—they will be able to return. The Lachine borough has promised legal action against the property owner, who remains uncontactable, while confusion continues over what lies ahead for those displaced.
By early January, tenants had been without heat or hot water since November. Frustrated by the lack of action from the listed owner and presumed property manager, borough officials decided to intervene.
After obtaining legal advice, the borough found that their numerous, unanswered attempts to contact the landlord warranted direct action. Workers entered the building to restore essential services, including heat.
"The best shower of my life," one tenant told The Gazette after it was fixed. However, the condition of the building continued to worsen.
The borough discovered that an empty apartment was broken into by squatters and left unsecured, according to Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic. Frozen pipes burst, sending water cascading from the third floor through the building. Local workers rushed to repair the heating system, but vandals struck again, cutting through a heating coil and causing another flood.
"Some tenants were using their ovens for warmth. Others had space heaters too close to the walls, leaving blackened scorch marks," Vodanovic said. "It was dangerous. The fire department had no choice but to evacuate the building."
At 7 p.m. last Thursday, the evacuation order was issued.
The Red Cross arranged temporary accommodation for the displaced tenants, many of whom are now staying in a nearby hotel. However, uncertainty remains regarding what will happen next. While some may qualify for social housing, others may not.
Vodanovic aimed to reassure residents, addressing reports that they would soon be relocated again.
"The Red Cross covered the first three days of the hotel, but the borough will take over until permanent housing is found," Vodanovic said.
Landlord still missing
Vodanovic mentioned they are preparing legal action against the building's owner but have been unable to locate him.
"We know he's around because he comes to pick up rent," Vodanovic stated.
Municipal records identify Thi Lan Nguyen as the owner, who has owned the property since 2012, while the property manager is believed to be Marcel Nguyen.
According to La Presse, over 170 complaints have been lodged against the building at the Administrative Housing Tribunal since 2013.
Neither Thi Lan nor Marcel could be reached for comments by The Gazette.
If the building is to be repaired or sold, the process could take months, Vodanovic indicated.
For now, resident Nikolajew is taking the week off work amid the ongoing troubles and is attempting to secure permanent housing.
"I just want a place to call home," she stated. "And I want to make sure my cat is safe."
