Arrest Warrant Issued for Hartford Landlord Over Numerous Fire Code Violations
The Barbour Garden Apartments fell into such disrepair that the Department of Housing and Urban Development pulled the contract in February.
Kristen Johnson, April 17, 2019, NBC Connecticut. Available Here
Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a landlord who owns a Hartford apartment complex deemed unlivable by federal housing officials.
The Barbour Garden Apartments fell into such disrepair that the Department of Housing and Urban Development pulled the contract in February. They’ve been working since then to get the residents, who occupy 68 units in the complex, relocated.
The Hartford Fire Department requested the warrant for Martin Rothman, owner of Adar Hartford Realty, LLC, due to numerous code violations dating back to October 2018, including a broke alarm system and blocked exits.
“We will hold everyone accountable who doesn’t abide by state statue and standards as it pertains to fire safety,” said Chief Reginald Freeman of the Hartford Fire Department.
Barbour Garden Apartments lost its federal housing contract after receiving a failing grade from inspectors. It received a nine out of 100. A passing score is 60.
“Right now, it’s a game with our lives,” Tasha Jordan, a Barbour Garden Apartments Tenant said.
HUD spokesperson Rhonda Siciliano said Barbour Garden Apartments are on round the clock fire watch because of the broken alarm system. Siciliano and Freeman said Rothman was ordered to hire a private company to conduct the watch, and that the city’s fire marshals routinely check to make sure there is someone keeping watch.