Code enforcement officials condemned a Westbrook apartment building Tuesday after dangerous electrical issues were found on the property, the third incident displacing tenants from large apartment buildings since June 18.

On Tuesday afternoon, multiple residents of 683 Main St. were coping with the news that the building was condemned. Eleven adults and two children were told to leave their homes by 2 p.m.

However, city code enforcement said the building’s owner has cooperated in the process, agreeing to pay for hotels and food vouchers for the residents while issues are addressed.

David Fenochetti, a Westbrook code enforcement officer, said the process mimicked that of 158 Brackett St. on June 18, when 23 people were displaced. He said a tenant called City Hall with a concern, which prompted code enforcement to look at the building.

Since that time, the families have been staying at local hotels, with no sign of if or when they will be able to return to their apartments – something that the residents on Main Street will also face.

Fenochetti said the building had considerable electrical issues, which he called “identical” problems to the ones found at the Brackett Street building. He said it was his first time in the building, which houses 11 units, but that the city had dealt with “exterior issues” in the past.

At Brackett Street, there was visible sparking. Here, he said Wednesday, there were multiple receptacles that were blackened, some leaving a trail of black soot on the wall.

Westbrook Fire Inspector Michael Corey, who was also on scene Tuesday, said the building had only five units occupied.

The yellow L-shaped building lies across from the Casa Novello restaurant on Main Street. Corey said City National Bank, based in California, owns the building.

Brendan Collins, one of the tenants of the building, was putting possessions into the trunk of his car Tuesday.

“We just found out a couple hours ago that we have until 2 o’clock,” he said, adding that he didn’t know why. “I was at work when it happened.”

Another tenant, Tom Moore, said he’s lived in the building since 2011. When told that the building was being condemned for electrical issues, he said he hadn’t noticed any in his unit.

“I’m unemployed, and I don’t know where I’m going to go,” he said. “I’m going to be homeless.”

Other residents discussed renting storage units, saying they were worried about their belongings remaining in the building. Just before the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday, Collins said residents had “no idea” where they would go.

“They said they were working on getting us a place to stay and a storage unit,” he said.

Later in the day, a U-Haul truck was parked in the lot outside the building alongside a locksmith’s company van.

On Wednesday, Fenochetti said the building owner had agreed to assist the residents, and Tuesday night, the 13 people stayed at a local hotel.

“The property owner provided funds to house all the tenants in a local hotel until permanent housing can be located,” he said, adding that he was also told the company would help the tenants locate permanent housing as well, if necessary.

The indication that the company would offer help with permanent housing suggests the difficulties assumed in getting the Main Street property up to code.

Fenochetti said the local property management company, Clarke Property Management (also Clarke Painting), is now waiting for a property walk-through and estimates for repair. A call to the company was not returned by the American Journal’s deadline Wednesday.

The building at 683 Main St. was built in 1900. In 2012, the building next door at 689 Main St. was destroyed by a three-alarm fire, leaving three families homeless.

Fenochetti said the problems in the building stem from its age, as well as its structure.

“It’s a big job, at a huge building,” he said, adding there is also possible water damage to wiring. “It’s not a gamble the city is going to take.”

Bill Baker, the city’s assistant city administrator, called the effort Wednesday “a text book case of how our effective code enforcement staff is working to keep families safe, and an example to all property owners in terms of how to take care of tenants displaced after the discovery of unsafe conditions.”

After the Brackett Street incident last month, the building’s owner, Bruce Hepler, has declined to comment. A day after the building was condemned, displacing two large families, a three-alarm fire on June 19 destroyed a building on Pierce Street, sending one resident to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. However, the fire has been deemed accidental.

Speaking about the collaboration between parties in the wake of Tuesday’s action by the city, Fenochetti said the property owner and manager have “done a very good job” to provide support for tenants. He also said the owner is working on food vouchers and storage units for the tenants as well.

Fenochetti is a relatively new addition to the Westbrook code enforcement department, which, prior to his arrival, was limited to one officer. However, he said both these incidents have stemmed from tenant concerns.

“Any inspector in that situation would have come up with the same result,” he said. “I have complaints sitting on my desk that I haven’t got to yet. I don’t know what lies in store.”

Red signs were posted on each door at 683 Main St. Tuesday, notifying residents that the building was condemned by the city. It’s the second such instance in a matter of weeks.Staff photo by Andrew Rice