Red Cross takes in residents of porch collapse building

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The apartment building at 2405 W. National has been condemned after a man fell through a crumbling balcony. Several families have been displaced, however tenants were allowed back in the building on Saturday, September 21st to gather some of their belongings.

There is no timetable for when the building might be back up and running. The American Red Cross has taken in the displaced residents at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

"We're here, we're helping. We'll make sure they're taken care of," said Ivory Parks of the Red Cross. "It's very traumatic, very traumatic and especially with the children because they don't understand. They don't know what's going on."

The apartment building has had about 40 violations in the past five years. Mayor Tom Barrett spoke on building codes and violations at the Milwaukee Public Library on Saturday saying if repair orders from the city go unanswered, inspection fees go up.

"There's always going to be properties that have not undergone inspection but we have been very proactive, and continue to be proactive, particularly on those safety related issues that we saw here on the south side," said Mayor Barrett.

The Red Cross is providing food, shelter, and transportation to about 14 people from the troubled apartment building.

FOX6 News called the building's landlord for comment. A man claiming to be the landlord's son said his father is out of town for the weekend.

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