JENNINGS, Mo. — A pipe bursting on Christmas Day in 2022 is still impacting seniors in Jennings. Finally, they can move back home to Fairview Village Senior Apartments after being evacuated due to excessive flooding and living in a hotel for a year.
When the pipe burst, the south side hallways of these senior living apartments suffered so much water damage, that one resident said it looked like a swimming pool inside.
With a fresh coat of paint, updated plumbing and new carpeting, residents were relieved to be back home.
A flooding evacuation wasn't something they ever expected.
"Never," Remoria Jean Taylor, a resident of Fairview Village, said. She has lived with this community since it opened in 2001.
Thinking back to the flooding, Taylor said, "I hope it never happens to anyone."
After two decades, it was move-in day again for Taylor and some of her fellow residents on Monday.
After hundreds of thousands of dollars in restoration, the approximately 40 occupants are no longer dealing with mold and waterlogged hallways after that pipe burst in December 2022.
The water "was coming out the ceilings and everything," Taylor said.
Jennings Mayor Gary Johnson said the cause was an old pipe that has now been replaced. The southern part of the building had the most damage but all of the residents had to be evacuated for a year.
The Hilton Garden Inn by the St. Louis Airport was home for 30 displaced residents for most of that period.
"I just thought it would take less time for them to fix this apartment than they did," Taylor said.
"Once you start digging into the building and realize there was more work that needed to be done than you originally thought, that process is extended," Johnson said. "So, originally it was just a couple of months. Again, the project was extended due to the excessive water damage and things like that."
The City of Jennings provided a $1,000 stipend or grant to these residents and waived building and permit fees for the owners.
Yet, residents said they're frustrated with Jennings and the building owners RISE Community Development, who originally said repairs might take a few months, not an entire year.
"At the end, it came together," said Lorraine Clower, council member for Jenning's 4th Ward. "We could get the people into their home and where they could feel like they're back at home."
"They feel like they're comfortable in their home. That was the main goal was to do that as well. At the beginning, it was frustrating."
The city waived the building and permit fees for the company to help expedite the rebuilding process. Johnson said that totaled about $5,000.
He wants folks to know that they are still accepting new residents. If you are 55+ and interested in moving to the newly renovated Fairview Village Senior Apartments, click here.