Residents Return to Highland Hall Apartments

They’re back. The wait is over. The Westchester County Department of Health has lifted its relocation advisory to Rye’s Highland Hall apartment complex. The City of Rye has OKd a re-occupancy advisory and R.A. Cohen & Associates has advised its tenants that it is safe to start moving back in.

Residents had been ordered to vacate the 99-apartment building because of lingering after effects from an oil spill. A burst basement furnace and flooding forced them to move out on August 28 due to oncern about air quality pollution from the oil compunds.

Residents began receiving e-mails and phone calls saying it was safe to move back in as of late Friday.

Over the weekend, they started moving back into the 6-story complex at 131 Purchase St. between Wappanocca Ave. and Highland Rd.

Since the spill, some tenants have been living in area hotels and others with family and friends.

Hotel stays and living expenses during that period were reimbursed by the R.A. Cohen management team.

Robert Cohen, who represents the Highland Hall ownership, said the landlord has been in close contact with the tenants since the evacuation order. Each apartment resident received $142 per day for their hotel stay during the evacuation period and $71 per day for living expenses.

Cohen said the company has also been in constant touch with the Department of Health monitoring safety issues.

“It was inconvenient and I’m glad it is over, but nobody was at fault –it was an act of nature, an act of God, and what happened was no fault of management –they have done everything they could to get us back as soon as possible and I’m happy to be back,” said Gwen Hughes, taking a break as friends helped her move back in to her apartment in the D Building overlooking a landscaped garden.

Asked about the possibility of a pending tenants' lawsuit against R.A. Cohen & Associates, she said she had heard about it but wanted no part of any lawsuit.

"Nobody was at fault, what happened just happened because of the storm," Hughes said.

“I have no complaints, it has been hard, but you can’t argue with God, nature, storms and floods,” said Ffat Chaudry, owner of Pins and Needles, a dry cleaning business located in The Shops at Rye, the retail spaces on the first floor.

“I closed August 28 –we were flooded with at least two feet of water -- and re-opened October 5 after management repaired the floors and walls, restored power, and did everything I asked of them,” she said. "I’m not looking to sue anybody. I don’t want something for nothing. I came here from Pakistan and opened my business in Rye four years ago. All I want is the opportunity to work hard and earn a living.”

Lester and Allegria, a law firm with offices in White Plains and NYC representing a group of Highland Hall tenants, failed to return a call for comment on a pending tenants lawsuit against R.A. Cohen & Associates.

In a letter dated October 14, the Westchester County Department of Health (WCDOH)  said that –in consultation with the New York Statement Department of Health –it “is lifting its relocation advisory to the building owner provided that the basement is cross ventilated with fresh air for at least 30 days.”

The letter also said the WCDOH had discussed these results with the City of Rye and the building owner pointing out that building management would need to coordinate the reoccupation in conjunction with the City of Rye.

Rye City Manager Scott Pickup said he spoke to the DOH and “we are fine with getting people back in” and has contacted Highland Hall management.

“We want to relay the good news to our tenants as soon as possible –we would like to tell them that they can return home for the weekend,” said management account executive Ross Milheiser, as soon as he got the green light from Pickup.

Robert Cohen said they got final DOH clearance Friday at 5:45 p.m. and started sending e-mails to residents one hour later.

Unconfirmed reports said that –despite DOH and Rye clearance -- some tenants had received a notice from a disgruntled tenant bloc saying it was unsafe to return this weekend. There were also claims of ruined furniture, clothing and appliances, as well as hardship due to the flooding and residual oil contamination and concern about restitution for damages.