Las Vegas will routinely inspect older residences and other extended stay complexes that have been converted from motels or hotels as part of its direct response to the December 2019 Alpine Motel Apartments deadly fire.
Under the inspection program approved by the city council on Wednesday, those properties built before 1981 and built with four or more units will undergo a city inspection at least once a year to ensure they are compliant.
Inspections can take place more frequently if a building is found to be out of compliance, the city said.
The move comes after six people were killed and more than a dozen more injured in the deadliest apartment fire in city history.
Built in 1972, the Alpine had a history of violating fire regulations and police service calls. A year-long investigation by the Las Vegas Review-Journal found the property had not been inspected by fire fighters for nearly three years before the early morning fire originated from an unattended stove. Las Vegas officials had also previously declined to label the Alpine as a chronic nuisance to police activity that could have shut it down.
The newspaper also documented that the audible fire alarm had been muted a month before the deadly fire and a property manager had locked an emergency exit door. The newspaper’s coverage of the tragedy was supported by the Nevada Press Association with a 1st Western Journalism Contest for breaking news coverage and first prize in the 2021 Best of the West Contest for Project Reporting.
“It was a tragedy and I couldn’t believe it and got our staff together right away,” Mayor Carolyn Goodman said on Wednesday, referring to the city’s actions after the fire. “We don’t play around with that. It was a very deep and intense look at everything … to make sure that we protect the lives of the residents. “
Almost 30 buildings targeted
The inspection program focuses on 28 properties, mostly downtown, that “kind of fell between the cracks” on code oversight since they were motels before they became long-stay apartments or residences, according to Tom Perrigo, chief operations and development City Officer.
They were also built before stricter building codes were passed that required safer fire and structural systems, Perrigo said.
The city can issue violations and orders for compliance which, according to the ordinance, can result in civil or criminal summons for non-standard properties. It is also illegal to rent a unit to someone until the unit has passed the inspection.
Property owners can expect disciplinary action for excessive police calls if they do not respond appropriately.
The city will promote the education of property owners and tenants on their rights and obligations under the ordinance, which requires that each floor have at least one sign indicating that concerns about fire and other safety issues can be reported to the city by phone.
‘The time is now’
Susy Vasquez, executive director of the Nevada State Apartment Association, moved to increase the city’s 24-hour notice for property inspection to 48 hours, as state law requires residents to receive a 24-hour notice themselves .
Councilor Stavros Anthony and Councilor Victoria Seaman voted against the bill as they looked for another two weeks to address outstanding industry concerns. But others were less inclined to wait, believing that some cleanup language shouldn’t delay them.
“I think now is the time,” said councilor Olivia Diaz, who represents parts of the city center. “I think we need this safety net.”
Alderman Cedric Crear, whose district the Alpine belongs to, said the new program was “a call for a response to some tragic incidents that have occurred in (the) inner city corridor in recent years”.
And Goodman called it “critical” to act on Wednesday.
“We don’t like slum landlords who fail to maintain their property and risk people’s lives,” she said.
The launch of the inspection program follows reforms passed in September when city lawmakers agreed to increase inspections and fines for neglected residential buildings and hotels for extended stays.
Contact Shea Johnson at sjohnson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272. Follow @Shea_LVRJ on Twitter.
