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Sponsored by 710 BookStore - - - http://www.seventen.com/Fires a hot topic at family housing site
Over $100,000 damage incurred in past eight monthsDaily Egyptian
Fires have caused a financial strain for the Evergreen Terrace family housing complex, with recent blazes causing more than $100,000 in damage, a University official said Tuesday.
Three fires within the past eight months have occurred at Evergreen Terrace, taking a heavy toll on funds, said Lisa Marks, an associate director of University Housing. The last fire occurred last week when a French fry grease destroyed one apartment unit and damaged others.
Marks said no provisions are made for fires or other disasters in the annual $1.6 million budget for Evergreen Terrace. The complex, located about two miles southwest of the main campus, is covered by SIUC insurance with a $25,000 deductible. Any damage falling under the deductible must be paid for with operating funds.
"It's already tight finances in that area, it is a small area, and it does stand on its own," Marks said.
Evergreen Terrace is not subsidized by state funds, only by rent. And unlike the residence halls on campus, Evergreen Terrace is mortgaged through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Marks said the remaining $500,000 of the mortgage should be paid by 2009, giving the University complete ownership of the complex.
Frequent flames
Fires are a common occurrence at Evergreen Terrace, said Marks, who recalled at least one fire a year in her six years as an associate director.
A fire last August destroyed one apartment unit and another fire in November destroyed the area office, forcing staff and the youth recreation program there to relocate to vacant apartments located across the 39-building complex.
The damage to the area office was estimated at $160,000, Marks said. Jamie Corr, who founded the recreation program, was unaware of plans to repair the building as other facilities on campus have a higher priority.
"It was horrible when it happened, but we're getting back on our feet," Corr said during a benefit for the area office last week.
Twenty people were forced to relocate last week and the fire forced the closure of a two-story, eight-apartment building. Each apartment unit suffered fire, smoke or water damage, and residents were moved to open apartments at Evergreen Terrace, Marks said. No cost estimate was available and did not know when the building would be repaired.
Shawn Muir, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering from Champaign, and his wife Marie-Eve had to evacuate from their second-floor apartment down a ladder provided by firefighters.
"Most of the apartment was water damaged, and there was a lot of smoke damage. I've done probably 30 loads of laundry since then, trying to get the smell out," Muir said.
Marks said all fires that have occurred in the residential buildings derived from the kitchen area, mostly taking place during cooking. She said residents of family housing sites are at extra risk of fire because of the cooking utilities, and said residents are encouraged to purchase renter's insurance to cover such incidents.
Future plans
Recent state legislation is requiring all universities to establish sprinkler systems in every residence hall by 2013. Schneider Hall received a system last summer and Mae Smith will receive a $2 million sprinkler system this year.
Marks said that Evergreen Terrace units will require a sprinkler system when the University gains ownership of the complex.
Officials recently proposed a 10 percent rent increase from $413 to $454 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment and from $446 to $490 for a three-bedroom apartment. Marks said the suggested rent hike, the largest in at least five years, will help make up for the recent fires and keep up with raises in the cost of operation.
"The increase will help some, but yet we've had increases in University service expenses, increases in utilities, the maintenance increases continue to go up each year," Marks said. "We have a lot of pieces to the puzzle that have just increased that we have no control over."
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 8:10:16 PM
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