At MonteVerde, a two-building senior housing complex in Northwest Baltimore, everyday life has turned into an uphill battle. For weeks, residents have been trudging up and down multiple flights of stairs after a late May bathroom fire set off sprinklers that knocked out the south-side elevators. Older tenants and people with mobility or respiratory issues say hauling groceries and trying to make medical appointments has become a grinding, daily ordeal.
Sprinklers Flooded Units And Knocked Out Elevators
According to a letter sent to residents and reporting by WBAL-TV, sprinklers activated on May 26 and flooded multiple apartments, common areas and building systems, leaving the south-side elevators out of service. The Baltimore City Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at 2503 Violet Ave around 9:30 p.m., and officials described it as a small bathroom fire that nonetheless caused extensive water damage throughout the building.
Residents Say Stairwells Feel Like An Obstacle Course
Tenants told WBAL-TV the outage has hit some of the building's most vulnerable residents hardest. Twelfth-floor resident Nita Gaddy, who has lived at MonteVerde for 24 years, said, "this is the first time this happened." Seventh-floor tenant Reginald Wells said he "can barely breathe" coming down the steps because he uses an inhaler. Another resident, William Johnson, told reporters he has been climbing 12 stories each day for the last three weeks. According to the report, some tenants were offered rooms at an extended-stay motel, while others have continued to navigate the stairwells.
Owner And Manager Listed On Property Site
The official listing for MonteVerde identifies the complex as an Affordable Homes & Communities property and shows KETTLER as the property manager. MonteVerde's site includes contact information and office hours, while KETTLER's corporate site describes the company's property-management services for multifamily communities.
Property Profile And Uncertain Next Steps
State housing records list Monte Verde at 2501-2503 Violet Avenue among properties in Maryland's LIHTC inventory, according to Maryland DHCD. Reporters sought comment from Affordable Homes & Communities and KETTLER but had not received a response as of WBAL-TV's reporting. Residents say they still have no firm timeline for when the elevators will be repaired, and many are already worried about long-term access for seniors and disabled tenants if the outage drags on.
