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Some were possibly going to start moving back into an unaffected area of the building on Monday, but city inspectors said there is still a lot more to do at 2110 Switzer Avenue.

“We are just getting started on this,� Jennings Deputy Building Commissioner William Hopkins told the Post-Dispatch on Friday.

He said the pipe burst in a vacant unit on the second-floor and that a significant amount of flooding happened before the water was shut off, making a complete mess of the south side of the building. While much of the wet plasterboard has been removed, Hopkins said he wants to monitor for the spread of mold and have other issues addressed that the city is finding before anyone moves in.

While recently inspecting the unaffected north side of the building, he said, the city found water stains from an unrelated incident on the third floor ceiling. He said there were also vacant units on that side without electric.

“Why do you think that pipe burst in that other room?� he said.

He said firewalls were missing between floors on the north side of the building, again, in an area not affected by Christmas flooding.

Asked how that got past inspectors when the building was constructed somewhat recently, he said: “I don’t know how they got around it. All I can tell you is they ain’t getting away with it this time.�

Hopkins started his position in November.

“Pipes bursting really shed light on all of the other conditions at the property that hadn’t been addressed,� said Kendall Hopkins, an attorney for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (not related to the inspector). He’s been meeting with displaced residents, many of them hobbled by age and ailments.

While some are staying with family and friends, about 15 of them have been put up at the Hilton Garden Inn by the airport. Several said in interviews that Fairview started out beautiful. Apparently there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by elected officials. Initially, the management was great but then struggled to keep anyone. Rooms sat vacant. Instead of fixing central air, window units were installed. And so on.

“We’ve been having problems in that building since 2016, and nobody to talk to,� said Sandra Ford, 67, who uses a walker and electric wheelchair.

She and others have grown tired of living at the Hilton, as nice as it is. Mona Calvin, 62, spent one night there, then left.

“I don’t want to share a hotel with people I don’t know,� Calvin said of doubling up.

Instead, when there’s not room at her friend’s house, Calvin stays in a 1997 Ford Expedition.

“Sometimes I park at Schnucks because I feel safe there,� Calvin said.

Vatterott Properties is listed as the management company overseeing Fairview. Late last week, an on-site manager declined to comment. She referred a reporter to a recorded telephone message line that displaced residents call for updates.

The recorded message said the status of the Feb. 6 and Feb. 23 move-in dates changed and apologized for the inconvenience.

“We no longer have a timeline from the city for when re-occupancy will occur,� the message said, adding: “We continue to work hard to ensure that we meet all requirements given to us by the city of Jennings.�

On Friday, Hopkins, the deputy building commissioner, told the Post-Dispatch: “The ball is in their court right now.�

“I need a current moisture map and current spore analysis,� he said, among the list of reports the city seeks.

Schona McClellon, chief building commissioner, said the city is doing the best it can to get residents back into Fairview as soon as possible. She said Fairview indeed had struggled with management turnover. She confirmed recent inspections showed “preexisting conditions.�

“We are concerned about the safety of all the residents,� she said.

Fairview is owned by Jennings Senior Associates. Rise Community Development, a nonprofit in St. Louis, says on its website that it developed Fairview with state and federal help, including low-income housing tax credits.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission, or MHDC, which administers tax credits, gave Fairview “satisfactory� ratings on the physical condition and management of the property and a “below average� rating for “file review,� according to an April 2022 inspection report.

The report mentioned nine of the 50 units were vacant and there wasn’t an on-site manager at that time. Of 14 units selected for inspection, Unit No. 210 didn’t have electric, another unit didn’t have a move-in inspection on file, while others missed leases and other paperwork. The elevator inspection was expired. A displaced resident who uses a wheelchair said the elevator was sometimes out of service for multiple days at a time.

Rise Executive Director Terrell Carter wouldn’t be interviewed by phone. Asked by email about the MHDC ratings and why Fairview hadn’t been better taken care of, he wrote: “We have moved to address any findings that we were made aware of from the City of Jennings. ... As any property owner can attest, maintenance is an ongoing commitment. We always strive for improvement even with a satisfactory rating from MHDC.�

He added: “Our team continues to listen to and respond to resident feedback and we will be happy to welcome them home as soon as we safely can.�

That’s not soon enough for Remoria Taylor, 79, and other displaced residents.

On Friday, she was in the Fairview parking lot with her sister, Ophelia Roberts, 82, hoping for better news.

“I am getting depressed,� said Taylor. “I am trying to be stable-minded and not get upset, but it’s been a long time.�

Taylor has been living at her sister’s home since Christmas. They smiled about having to share a room as little girls, growing up at Pruitt-Igoe, the massive St. Louis complex that became an icon of failed national public housing policy.

“Not that I am not comfortable at my sister’s,� Taylor said, staring over at the condemned building, “I’d like to get back in there as soon as possible.�