Harbor Ridge Residents Displaced After Memorial Day Sewage Failure

A sewage system failure at Harbor Ridge apartment complex over the Memorial Day weekend displaced residents and prompted renewed scrutiny of the property’s ongoing maintenance record during the June 1 Ashtabula City Council pre-council session. What Happened City Solicitor Cecilia Cooper told council that Harbor Ridge experienced a sanitation sewer problem during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Licensed plumbers were brought in immediately, impacted units were vacated, and the landlord agreed to cover hotel accommodations for displaced residents. When Cooper followed up the following Tuesday, the landlord extended hotel stays an additional week while repairs continued. As of the June 1 meeting, Cooper said she had not received confirmation that the issue was fully resolved and all residents had returned to their units. Improvement Noted, Concerns Remain Cooper drew a clear contrast with the property’s response to a heating failure last fall, when residents were not placed in hotels despite repeated requests. She said the Memorial Day response represented meaningful improvement in how the landlord handled an emergency. Still, she told council it remains unacceptable that proactive maintenance is not preventing these failures in the first place. Before any residents can reoccupy affected units, city building inspectors and the fire marshal must approve them as safe for occupancy. The health department has also been involved in the review process. Cooper noted that if the city were to seek more aggressive action, the option would be to urge the Ohio Attorney General’s office to close the property, raising the question of where displaced residents would go. Councilors expressed concern about families with children being placed in hotels away from bus pickup locations and about the cost burden of meals and daily expenses when residents cannot access their own kitchens.