Marlene Wexler is 81 years old, and has lived at the Heritage Pointe Senior Apartment complex for nearly 20 years.
“I was full of piss and vinegar back then,” she said. “I still have a little bit of that left in me, too.”
She’s using that fight left in her against the property she said “used to be a nice place to live.”
Right now, Wexler’s kitchen, bedroom and living room are covered in plastic sheeting. Underneath the plastic, the walls have been torn down to the studs as part of a major repair project.
“It’s a big hardship for me,” she said. “There’s nothing but dust around here.”
Dust is no small issue for Wexler. She suffers from both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung diseases which force her to take daily breathing treatments.
Wexler is one of many residents in Heritage Pointe’s Building C whose walls have been ripped down for a repair-and-replace project, targeting corroded, leaking plumbing in the 23-year-old building.
As a result, water in the senior-living complex will be turned off in Building C from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until the project is completed.
Further complicating matters, contractors said that the building was not built as drawn — plumbing lines were not laid out according to plan, forcing contractors to demolish walls beyond their original, targeted plan.
“If it were just going to happen for a week or so, that’d be one thing,” Wexler said. “But they’re talking months.”
District 4 City Councilman Steve Sammarco is “shocked,” he said.
Sammarco said that he and other representatives from the City of Redondo Beach met with the owners of Heritage Point, the Foundation for Affordable Housing, last year regarding resident complaints, including leaking plumbing. The meeting ended amicably, he said, leaving him to believe that issues would be solved within months.
“I’m amazed to see, a year later, not only hadn’t they done it,” he said, “but it seemed like the operation is half-baked.”
Sammarco attended the meeting because residents of the facility invited him. “I feel responsible as a councilman…we’re trying to take care of our residents and our constituents,” he said.
The land is leased to the Foundation for Affordable Housing by the Redondo Beach Unified School District — and according to Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Janet Redella, RBUSD is working to help the residents of Heritage Pointe.
“We reached out to the Foundation for Affordable Housing and requested that they get involved directly to come up with some reasonable accommodations for residents,” Redella said, adding that the district has also contacted legal counsel to enforce any available lease provisions the district may have. “What we’re looking for is a prompt resolution to this matter.”
At the meeting, Heritage Pointe management said they’d been attempting to provide assistance. A hospitality room has been set up elsewhere in the complex for Building C residents to use toilet and shower facilities. Masks will also be made available for residents, they said in the same meeting — however, there were no offers made that affected residents would be given help in finding other living accommodations while their units are under construction.
“They were adamant that they won’t be relocating anyone. They’re not paying for anything — they didn’t offer to pay ten cents,” Wexler said. “I didn’t win the lottery, so I can’t leave — I’ll be here until I get out, one way or another.”
Joyce Walker, a representative for PK Management, issued the following statement:
“After months of ongoing plumbing leaks and associated repair issues, a comprehensive repair is underway at Heritage Pointe Apartments.
Management has met with the residents to inform them regarding the details of the project. Thus far, only initial demolition and exploratory work has commenced.
During the project, residents will not need to be relocated off of the property. It is important to note that at no time will the property be without water on a consistent basis and residents will be notified in advance of all intermittent water interruptions.
The well-being and comfort of our residents is our primary concern. As such, the owner/agent is working diligently with our third party contractors to ensure that the plumbing renovation is completed seamlessly and with the least amount of inconvenience to our residents.”
