Judge allows Prince George’s County sheriff to remove condo residents near homeless encampment

A Prince George’s County district court judge has authorized sheriffs to evacuate the Marylander Condominiums if property managers do not fix the heat that they say neighboring homeless people wrecked almost three months ago.

Judge Bryon Bereano directed that residents from roughly 100 affected units be “completely removed” if the company fails to remediate “temporary electrical feeders” that have powered residents’ space heaters since last Nov. 26.

Overuse of portable heaters has often overwhelmed the grid, leaving many residents without power as well.

“The County and all of its agencies, departments, and agents, including the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department, shall have the authority to take all action necessary to enter onto the subject property and execute this Order,” Judge Bereano wrote in an enforcement order signed Thursday.

At a Feb. 5 hearing, the judge gave property management company Quasar two weeks to begin a range of repairs, including fixing a fence and locks that the homeless people bypassed.

The order notes that the judge also required Quasar to submit nightly logs to the county’s fire marshal to monitor the blazes that officials say homeless people frequently ignite near the property line.

The logs must confirm that the fires have not damaged the electrical feeders.

The judge’s order specifies that Quasar must restore heat to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit “in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet room.”

Failing that, it instructs Quasar to “ensure that all dwelling units are vacated and that they remain unoccupied until such a time as the County grants approval for them to be re-occupied.”

County officials taped the order to affected condo buildings on Friday, bolstering their plan for “mass evacuations” after a March 17 follow-up hearing.

However, they declined to specify when county sheriffs might begin forcibly removing residents.

“The County continues to monitor compliance with the court’s order and remains focused on resident safety, enforcement of housing standards, and coordination with relevant partners,” Devan Martin, deputy chief of staff for County Executive Aisha Braveboy, wrote in an email.

“The March 17 hearing remains scheduled and is expected to address compliance status and next steps,” he said.

Mr. Martin said a county investigation pinned the failure of the 70-year-old heating system on “infrastructure failure, not vandalism.”

According to court filings, the condo owners’ association lacks the funds to make the millions of dollars in required repairs.

Officials at Quasar, a Rockville company that took over the property last year, were still seeking a bank loan to cover the work on Monday.

They said repairs on the property fence would start this week. They also reported paying a fire watch company $15,000 a month to submit the required logs to county officials.

“Forcing owners to leave their homes does not help the situation,” said Kenneth Brown, the company’s CEO. “Certainly, Quasar recommends that residents of units that are unfit for habitation obtain alternative housing until the Association can effect repairs, but the ultimate decision is up to the individuals affected.”

Quasar officials say banks will not loan them money until the county stops homeless addicts from sleeping, defecating, and having sex in condo common rooms.

Phil Dawit, Quasar’s managing director of real estate, said he watched 30 to 40 transients rebuild their tents on Saturday while a church group offered them hamburgers.

“The Marylander does not need to be shut down,” Mr. Dawit said. “We are working to get the financing to fix the problem the county created by refusing to remove the encampment.”

The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, which would carry out any forced removals, said it has not received instructions to do so.

“At this time, we have not received a court order to evacuate The Marylander,” Taylor Thomas, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, said Monday.

In recent weeks, some condo residents have boarded up their windows and moved into hotels. Most have refused to depart, saying they have nowhere to go.

“I guarantee you the county is trying to tear down this property to make room for more profitable real estate,” said Scott Barber, a condo owner since 1982 who lives with his mother and brother.