'Structural Emergency' Displaces 48 At Hartford Apartment Building: City

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford officials say they are pursuing enforcement action against the owner of a Sumner Street apartment building after a "structural emergency" forced dozens of residents from their homes on July 4.

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam discussed the situation during a press conference Wednesday, saying 40 adults and eight children were evacuated from 57-59 Sumner St. after the city declared a structural emergency at the property.

Reportedly, the situation involved severe flooding in the building.

According to Arulampalam, the evacuation affected residents on the building's fifth, sixth, and seventh floors.

"These are real people who are getting hurt," the mayor said.

Arulampalam said the city believes the conditions resulted from the landlord's negligence and pledged to pursue enforcement.

"This is a direct result of negligence of the landlord, who we're going to hold accountable," he said.

The city identified the property's owner as Shlomo Sarot of Woodmere, N.Y.

According to Arulampalam, Hartford has suspended the landlord's rental license and issued notices of violation citing the city's building, housing, and fire safety codes.

The mayor said Hartford's Department of Health and Human Services has been working to help displaced residents secure temporary housing.

"They've been working long nights to ensure that there is a pathway for all 40 of these adults and eight of these children to ensure that they can relocate into hotels in the short term," Arulampalam said. "And for those who will need permanent relocation, there is a plan for them."

The city is also providing financial assistance to displaced tenants, Arulampalam said.

Each household will receive $4,000 to help cover a security deposit and first month's rent for a new apartment, along with $300 per person to address immediate expenses.

"The City of Hartford will do everything it can to protect its tenants," Arulampalam said. "We will do everything we can to make sure everyone has a safe place to live."

The city has not released additional details about the structural conditions that prompted the emergency declaration.

Any findings regarding negligence or code violations remain allegations by city officials, and the enforcement process is ongoing.