By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
The owner of a Yukon senior living community plans to reopen by the end of this year after flooding damage closed the facility nearly six months ago.
Tenants at the Residence at Yukon Hills, 105 E Bass, were displaced Feb. 25 when a pipe burst during extreme cold weather. Occupants of the two-story, 60-unit apartment building had no choice but to move out because the structure was uninhabitable.
The Residence at Yukon Hills’ owner, Overland Property Group LLC of Denver. Colo., and management company Seldin LLC of Omaha, Neb., are restoring the property.
They plan to reopen the apartments after repairs are finished and have passed inspection.
“Currently, we are working closely with the insurance company, national remediation company, reconstruction company and the City of Yukon to reopen The Residence at Yukon Hills as quickly as possible,” said Erik Sabotka, vice president of asset management for Overland Property Group.
“This was a tremendous loss to the residents and community. Due to the size of the remediation and reconstruction caused by the flood, we do not have a definitive date for re-opening, however, we are targeting end of 2022.”
Current supply chain delays are causing longer remediation and rebuild processes, according to Sabotka.
“We understand the tremendous need to deliver The Residence at Yukon Hills to the community and we are working closely with management and continue to communicate with residents as information is received,” he said.
The Residence at Yukon Hills opened in November 2017, featuring affordable apartment homes for people ages 62 years and above.
Yukon Fire and Police evacuated the senior occupants on the evening of Feb. 25 after the sprinkler system activated on the second floor.
The sprinkler system that caused the flooding reportedly had been inspected and serviced by a third-party company just days before the pipe burst in below-freezing temperatures.
“Water just gushed out like a waterfall, and it kept coming – it was everywhere,” displaced resident Gail Stolzfoos said.
The building’s power and water had to be shut off, according to Yukon Fire Chief Shawn Vogt.
Many of the Residence at Yukon Hills’ occupants secured new housing while others moved in with family and friends.
The senior community’s management allowed former residents to cancel their leases and refunded deposits.
STILL WAITING
Yukon’s Dianna Ligas had signed a lease for a two-bedroom unit shortly before the senior apartment community abruptly closed due to February’s water damage.
Ligas, then living in Hinton, was scheduled to move into the Residence at Yukon Hills shortly after the incident.
She ended up renting a house in Yukon but said she’s still trying to get her $350 deposit back from the Residence at Yukon Hills.
Ligas recently went to the apartment building and noticed that nobody is living there yet.
“They have not contacted me,” she said. “They have not sent me my money.
“I put a deposit down and I have heard nothing.”
Ligas tried to reach the on-site manager and management company representatives.
“I can’t get ahold of anyone,” she said. “I want my money back.”
Ligas said she’s “moved on” and has no plans to live at the Residence at Yukon Hills after it reopens.
