Vegas Block Apartments Ordered Vacated

A Downtown Concord apartment building that has been plagued by crime, drugs, and infestations, and that was put up for auction in June, is officially being vacated as a public health danger.

Tenants have until noon on Friday, Aug. 8, to get out of the building, according to officials.

Dan Andrus, the chief of the Concord Fire Department, confirmed the action against the building, saying inspections by his department and code enforcement began on Aug. 6.

“Major life safety issues were identified, including portions of the fire sprinkler system being missing, rendering the system inoperable; large portions of walls also being missing, compromising fire separation; inoperative fire doors; and other conditions suggesting structural compromise,” Andrus said in an email. “In addition, several health conditions were identified including the presence of bedbugs and other signs of infestation.”

Andrus stated that the situation “was sufficiently urgent that a fire watch of Fire Department personnel was posted at the building early last evening and that watch remains in effect.”

After consulting other officials, including the state fire marshal’s office and the city’s legal department, Andrus ordered the building vacated.

The order to vacate was sent to the building owner and tenants this afternoon.

Andrus clarified that the department has the right to take such action by state law, RSA 154:21-A, “which permits local officials to order a building to be vacated given the presence of a clear and imminent danger to life and safety.”

Remi Hinxhia, who owns the building next door, recently won a bidding auction for the building, getting it for $975,000, after the previous owner fell behind on taxes and repairs.