Three weeks after unstable buildings in Saint-Josse were evacuated, the residents of the apartments have returned home, despite the fact that their apartments have still not been repaired.
Around 50 residents were living in the unstable apartments until 1 April, while a nearby yard between Chaussée de Louvain and Rue Scailquin had caused the ground to subside – a lowering of the ground level.
The yard next to the apartment block was the cause of the building’s instability, which resulted in cracked walls and broken gas pipes in several units. The municipality has promised to cover all costs, Bruzz reports.
Several walls have been torn apart, especially on the higher floors, but project developer Capital Construct continues to develop a further 33 apartments on this site.
Damage done
One of the residents living on the third floor with his mother has found cracks in the bedroom, kitchen and toilet. “She was still too scared to sleep here tonight,” he told Bruzz. “She stayed with my brother in Schaerbeek.”
On the fourth floor, a woman’s kitchen wall now has a crack of at least 1 cm wide, which has also disrupted their gas and water supply, meaning the family of six is without heating and cannot shower.
Three weeks after the evacuation, the residents returned home after the municipality carried out stability works on the yard.
Project developer Capital Construct considered the works unnecessary, based on various expert reports. But the Council of State agreed with the municipality, mainly because the cement had already been poured. The municipality has already spent €150,000 on the additional work, from its own resources.
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Saint-Josse has also promised to carry out further repairs. Mayor Emir Kir’s spokesperson said there are large cracks in nine apartments and the gas pipes of the building are damaged.
Residents remain concerned
On the second floor lives a family of four, who now have a crack in their kitchen wall and between the floor and the baseboards. “There have already been meetings with the municipality. They say they will reimburse us, but I don’t know yet,” father Ibrahim said. The family now is dealing with humidity.
Ibrahim would prefer to sell as soon as possible. “But who would want to buy my apartment in this state?”
The municipality received the residents on Wednesday for a meeting in the town hall, where they demanded justice. “I can’t sleep out of fear and we still don’t have hot water,” one resident detailed.
While developer Capital Construct and responsible contractor Van Roey were not invited to the meeting, Capital Construct has refused to comment.
The contractor’s insurance covers any damage to the interior of neighbouring buildings. However, with the municipality taking charge of the repair works, the situation has become complex.
