Description
Large group of homeless people's tents/etc behind the Warrenton Mills & KMart. Using Warrenton Mills (private) parking lot as walk through. Picking through trash/recycing containers. Campfire smoke filling the complex - fire risk for surrounding forest and condo residents. Intimidating residents walking their dogs. From what I've heard, it has been an issue for a few years without anything done about it.
35 Comments
TJB2007 (Registered User)
It's been like that for the 3 years I've been there. I doubt they will do anything. I feel bad for all of them, however, there are homeless shelters in Torrington. I've heard the reason why they go there is because "it is fun". I've hiked up there before with some friends (we had no clue this tent city existed) and we stumbled upon mattresses, tarps, garbage, blankets, and tons of beer bottles and cans. We even saw people out there. The only time of year that they are not out there is during the winter. They have never really intimidated me at all, but at night time you can hear them partying, and you can also smell them burning stuff. It doesn't often smell like a good fire either, it sometimes smells like an electrical fire, and sometimes smells like burning rubber.
Again, I feel bad for these people, but there are other options out there rather than camping in the backyard of a condo. Something should be done. If there were ever a fire that went out of control that would be terrible and it wouldn't be fair to the residents that pay to live there.
Very concerned (Guest)
Warrenton Res. (Guest)
TJB2007 (Registered User)
Suggested course of action (Guest)
Lissa (Registered User)
Guest (Guest)
Guest (Registered User)
TJB2007 (Registered User)
I used to love living at the Warrenton Mills. I ended up moving out a year ago because of how management operated and I just saw the place falling apart. I do have respect for the people that are homeless and trying to make it out of hard times like Lissa. I always have that fear of being in hard times and I do think everyone deserves a chance to better themselves. In my opinion no one should have to go without shelter and without a warm meal.
Anyway, when I was living at the Mills I always noticed that it kind of smelled like a camp fire. I enjoyed the smell, until that one day we went hiking and found the homeless camp. There were beer bottles, liquor bottles, and garbage all over the place. It did not look like a friendly sort of camp.
I did eventually tell management at the Mills that there was a homeless camp on the property and they said they could not do anything about it. I wish there was a solution to make everyone happy and comfortable. My solution was to just leave the Mills. But that was after my roof started leaking and they didnt fix it until a year later, things would break and they would take a few weeks or months to fix, and our friends motorcycle got stolen. Really the "Tent City" was just one other problem that the Mills refused to come up with a solution for.
I am going to leave this issue open so maybe we can get some thoughts on solutions. I personally have none right now because I haven't been there in a year and I don't know how things are now.
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
It is true that the City of Torrington, The Warrenton Mill Property Management and the Warrenton Mill Condo Association Board will not do anything to help the residents of the Mill. I have even gone to the local newspaper about this in the past, and they have ignored me. Any and all complaints fall on deaf ears. The only people who seem to care are the Torrington police officers, and there is only so much they can do without the help and support of others in the community.
No one will touch this issue because it's deemed "politically incorrect" and they don't want to be seen as being insensitive to the plight of the homeless.
The response/advice from the condo association and the property management office is to call the police if you see any nefarious goings on.
I am tired of calling the police. I would be calling them every day if I took this advice.
In the past month I have had super glue put on my car windshield and my windshield scratched, my new car has been keyed to the point that I simply don't care anymore because to care would mean that I would be perpetually upset--because every morning when I walk out there is a new mark. And just yesterday afternoon I was harassed by a group of skanky-looking adult men who were either high or drunk as they made their way through the Warrenton Mill's private parking lot as I walked from my car to my condo unit. I have no idea if they were part of the Tent City people, but that's the direction in which they were headed.
Soon those living at Tent City will be inside our condos. I say that only half-kiddingly, because the situation is very dire here and becoming more so by the day. Now their tents are much closer to the Mill, and they have become much more brazen about walking through the parking lot, loitering in the lot at night, building campfires with materials other than wood (I think some of what they are burning are probably toxic items like plastic bottles). The smoke wafts downwind onto our property. The Torrington Fire Dept. has been here at least once this week. They are here on an almost weekly basis, if not more. Let's face it: These homeless people own the Mill now. They have more rights than the homeowners and residents of the Mill. No board of any authority will address this situation, and the Tent City dwellers know this and as a result have become emboldened.
Here's what needs to happen: The Warrenton Mill Board and Property Management need to make this problem a priority issue and work with city and state officials to put a stop to this situation. The board also needs to ante up some money to hire a security guard to patrol the Mill property at night. They also need to install security cameras (there are cameras in various places at the Mill; now is the time to make them operational), and consider putting a fence around the perimeter of the property. This needs to happen before spending association funds on fixing the windows!
My fear is nothing will be done until someone is seriously hurt or worse. Any officials reading this: Please help us. We don't dislike homeless people. We sympathize and are concerned with their plight. But they are encroaching on our homes and creating an unsafe environment, and decimating our property values. Something must be done about this before it becomes too late.
Guest (Registered User)
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
Here's a challenge to WFSB and the Torrington Register Citizen, both organizations that subscribe to this particular topic in See, Click, Fix: Come to the Warrenton Mill and cover this issue. We will show you how close Tent City is to our condo complex, and you can see for yourself what residents of this complex are up against. You have signed up to monitor this situation, so you're obviously interested. Why not come out and cover it?
Here is a challenge to WFSB and the Torrington Register Citizen, both news organizations that have signed up to receive alerts on this particular issue as posts appear on See,Click,Fix: You are obviously interested in what's happening up in the Tent City behind the Warrenton Mill condo complex. So why not come out and cover the story?!? Someone will be happy to show you the campsite, and how it adversely impacts the daily lives of those who own and rent at this condo complex.
Frankly, I doubt if any media will do a story on this. I have reached out to the media in the past but to no avail. There is a story here; the problem is that people do not want to go out on a limb and talk about this in a public forum because homelessness is a politically charged issue. I will be very surprised if anyone has the courage to touch this.
Again, those of us who live at the Mill are saddened by the plight of the homeless. But this problem must be resolved to the benefit of those who are living in the Tent City AND to the benefit of those who live at the Warrenton Mill. The situation is escalating, and what's happening in the woods behind the Mill is a humanitarian crisis on the local level. This is a local story. Please, cover it!
Guest (Registered User)
Guest (Registered User)
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
Thanks for the heads-up about the Rep-Am article. Here's the link for anyone who hasn't seen it: http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/doc55fa4082d7e29360320936.txt
Where is the Mayor Torrington?! Time to address this issue once and for all.
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
Guest (Registered User)
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
Guest (Registered User)
Squatters or trespassers...Informative article
Legal How-To: Getting Squatters Evicted
By Jenny Tsay, Esq. on April 29, 2014 6:45 AM
It's always unsettling to come home and find that squatters are living on your property, but how can you get rid of them?
In some cases, you may get in trouble by forcibly removing squatters from your property, so there are some legal considerations you need to keep in mind. Here's a general overview:
Are they squatters or trespassers? Before you do anything, find out if the people on your property are squatters or trespassers. Trespassers are people who enter onto an owner's land without permission and are subject to criminal and civil penalties. Generally, trespassers are only on a property temporarily. For example, people who come onto a property to vandalize it are most likely considered trespassers. On the other hand, squatters are people who "move" into a property and live there, usually without the owner's consent. This practice is more common if the property is a vacation home and/or the owner rarely comes to check on the place. For the most part, squatters can't be removed without some sort of civil eviction action.
Eviction proceedings. Since squatters aren't paying rent to live on your property, you can evict them. The first option is serve the squatters with an eviction notice. If the squatters refuse to leave, you can file an unlawful detainer lawsuit against them to formally kick them out via a court order. However, just because you won an unlawful detainer suit doesn't mean you can march in and toss them out. If squatters still don't leave after a court order, you need to go to your local police or sheriff's department for help enforcing the judgment. Taking matters into your own hands by forcibly removing squatters could land you in legal trouble.
Adverse possession laws. Under adverse possession laws, squatters may legally own your property if they've openly and continuously lived there for an extended period of time. The actual time period varies by state, but at least a few years must pass in most cases. The squatters have to meet all the elements of adverse possession in order to claim the property as theirs. Your best bet in preventing this result is to go and visit all your property locations at least once a year to check for squatters.
Need More Help?
Trying to evict squatters can be frustrating, but you don't have to face the problem alone. If you don't have the time or the patience to deal with the situation, you may want to call an experienced real estate attorney who's knowledgeable about eviction proceedings in your state.
Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
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Homeless advocate (Registered User)
MM (Registered User)
As a longtime resident of The Warrenton Mill, I fundamentally agree with what Homeless Advocate wrote earlier today. However, the problem involves more than camp fires. I won't take the time to list the other dangerous issues involved, but if you read back through the SeeClickFix comments and do some other research you will better understand there are many problems associated with Tent City. No one should be homeless; this is an absolutely heartbreaking situation. But homeowners also have the right to feel safe on their property and they need to protect their investment. I do feel the Mayor is addressing the issue. She spoke to homeowners at the Warrenton Mill Condo Association meeting earlier this week with candor and compassion for all involved--the homeless and our homeowners. She shared a plan that I believe is both sustainable and fair to all involved. However, I have to remind myself that she inherited this issue, and it has escalated in the almost 13 years my family has owned property at the Warrenton Mill. Understandably, it will not be resolved overnight.
Now, if I can go back to Homeless Advocate's last sentence in his or her post with the camp fires comment, let me shed perspective from my vantage point: I am currently walking with a pneumatic boot on my foot and with a cane in my hand. I was awakened from a deep sleep last week in the wee hours of the morning to the smell of smoke and haze in my condo unit. Disoriented, I honestly thought the place was on fire and raced down my stairs to find the source; however, on my way down I missed the last step. As it turns out, the smoke was coming from outside (read: Tent City). I am now laid up for a good four to six weeks while my ankle heals. I am self supporting, so while I do have a roof over my head for which I'm thankful, this incident has impacted my livelihood and it is just one illustration of the danger associated with having a Tent City so close to the condo complex. We are not heartless when it comes to homelessness at the Mill, but we do want to see some changes that benefit all involved, including our neighbors who live up in the woods. We want to see them all in homes of their own, with a roof over their head. I believe at the end of the day we are all working toward the same goal here, so let's keep the momentum going as a community. I would venture to say that deep in our hearts, most of us are advocates for the homeless.
TylerG (Guest)
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Concerned Warrenton Mill Resident (Registered User)
Elvisthecat (Guest)
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Closed Warrenton Res. (Registered User)