Plane crash aftermath
"We've been uprooted and we're trying to get some semblance of being grounded somewhere, rather than have to think, 'Where am I going to be next week?' or 'How long is this going to go on for?'" Peyser said.
The answer to how long residents of Building 7 at the
The crash is under investigation by the
Other units in the building at
None of the nearly three-dozen residents across 12 units can be allowed to live in the building again until several repairs are completed, said
"It's going to be a lengthy period of time because of the issues with the sprinkler system and the trusses, and the city is not going to allow occupancy until the trusses are replaced," Gargiulo said.
Trusses are part of the framework that supports the roof of the condo building. They have to be special-ordered and manufactured off-site, before being brought to the building and installed. That process could take eight weeks or more, Gargiulo said.
Once the roof is replaced, the building has to be heated before the sprinkler system can be replaced, another step that has to happen before residents can return home.
"It's a step-by-step process, and unfortunately it's going to take more time than anticipated," Gargiulo said.
Residents make do
Peyser and his wife, who lived one unit over from the two that were heavily damaged by the plane, will most likely get to return to their condo within two or three months, as it sustained no direct damage from the crash.
They stayed with a family member in
However, they had plenty of gratitude for the staff at both hotels, as well as the neighboring Margaritas restaurant that provided them meals and the friends, family and coworkers that have offered them assistance along the way, including Klein-Peyser's hair salon, Beau Monde Hairstylist in
Several residents of Building 7 are now staying at the
"They told me that my unit sustained the most damage because of all the water," he said. "My place is basically trashed."
Moore was informed it would be three to six months before he would be allowed back into his unit, though he was told to expect it to be closer to the latter. As he stays at the
Despite the ruin, Moore remained upbeat.
"I'm not too depressed about it. There's not really anything you can do about it," he said. "You've got to let them do their jobs, and unfortunately it all takes time."
"It's hard. You're living out of a suitcase," she said. "But they're coming along pretty well with the units. They've got all the walls torn down, the ceilings. They tore out my kitchen today."
Similar to what happened with Moore's condo, water seeped down into Gattoni's unit, causing damage to her kitchen, dining room, den and two bathrooms. While many things have to be ripped out and replaced, the watery mess at least spared most of her furniture, she said.
While Gattoni said she'd have to pick up the tab on a new refrigerator, the condo association was replacing the stove and dishwasher. She added that she was looking forward to getting to pick out new things for her kitchen.
But back at the
She said it's awful the pilot was killed, and she's grateful that no one else was hurt. She feels badly for those who are expected to be displaced longer than she is and for those who lost more to damage. They're sentiments shared by other residents, who acknowledged that the building could have easily gone up in flames.
And as much as she wants to be home, Klein-Peyser wondered what it would be like mentally and emotionally to return to the building with memories of the crash still lingering.
"Every time I hear a plane go over the building now, I'm probably going to duck my head," she said.
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