‘It’s wrong’ Tellico Plains apartment residents’ belongings left outside during renovations

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. (WATE) — People living at an apartment complex in Tellico Plains wonder how much longer they’ll have to wait before renovations are finished.

Some residents placed everything they own in front of their apartments, out in the elements. They did this in advance of workmen who were scheduled to renovate one room at a time inside their apartments. However, that didn’t happen as timetables apparently got off schedule.

Donna Kennedy lives at Raintree Apartments in Tellico Plains. Four weeks ago, her furniture and household items, everything she owns, were moved outside her apartment and placed under a canopy to keep the stuff dry.

Renovations at the low-income government-subsidized units have been underway for weeks. The apartments are already updated and look good. However, residents had to place their stuff outside as their units were modernized.

“In the beginning, we were told it would probably be put into one of the vacant apartments to where it would be safe and secured,” said Kennedy.

The construction company placed their tools and supplies, as well as new cabinets, toilets, and countertops in the storage units. However, that benefit was not extended to residents.

“They told us at the very beginning before anything started that they were going to put all of our stuff in storage and put us up into hotel rooms until our apartments were done,” said Tonja Taylor.

Those plans changed though, and residents had no choice.

“We couldn’t have anything in the house so we had to bring all of our belongings outside because they did not give us any place to store our stuff,” said Taylor.

Woody Weeden has moved some of his possessions back inside, but not all of it.

“We’re elderly. We are disabled. We don’t have money to go get motel rooms and still worry about our items,” said Kennedy.

Stephanie Kirkland said she’s ashamed of the appearance in front of her apartment.

“We have nowhere to sit because our furniture was ruined. Mama lays in the bed to keep her feet up. I’ve been lying on a pallet outside. My microwave is hidden over there. All of my food is over there in the corner,” said Kirkland. “I can’t stand it. I feel like I’m going to have a stroke.”

6 News talked with a manager from Hallmark Management Properties, the Atlanta-based company that owns Raintree Apartments. He said the plan was to renovate one room at a time. That way residents could move their clothes and belongings into another room. But that game plan didn’t work out.

Shannon Harris, an Alderwoman with the City of Tellico Plains, said she couldn’t sleep after touring the complex early last week.

“I think it’s wrong,” said Harris. “I just think this is uncalled for. I don’t think that anybody that owns this property would live the way they are having these people live. 80-year-old people have no business lying on the ground on a mattress. There are 40 tenants here and half of them don’t have an advocate. So, if we don’t help them who is going to help them.”

Crews did move big pieces of furniture back into some refurbished apartments last week. Appliances were also moved into place and set up. It may, however, be a waiting game for others to have their stuff moved in.

For Veronica Cole and the other residents moving back inside can’t happen soon enough.

When will all the residents be able to move their stuff inside, we don’t know. We reached out to Hallmark Management Properties for comment, but we have not heard back.

The company’s website says it ensures efficient management of affordable and rural housing. Financial assistance for Raintree Apartments is made through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency. That’s where the government funding comes from to help low-income, elderly, and disabled people with affordable housing.

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