Two dozen residents living in Walden Eco Village being evicted over safety concerns
More than two dozen people in Peterborough are set to be evicted from their rental properties after town officials said they witnessed significant code violations. >> Download the free WMUR appThe Walden Eco Village in Peterborough was created more than 12 years ago. Now, roughly 25 people live there.“Tiny little houses, shared facilities, cooking and bathroom facilities, that sort of thing,” owner of the village Akhil Garland said. Garland said he initiated a subdivision process, so people could own their own structures. He is working with town officials through that process.“Safety has not been an issue, but now, all of a sudden, I’m told there is an imminent safety danger,” Garland said. Town officials inspected 15 buildings in the village last Thursday, 14 of them are being rented. The Peterborough Fire Chief Ed Walker said they found several code violations that are raising major concerns.“As example, for the electric, the cabins are powered by extension cords, they are daisy-chained from building to building providing power to those,” Walker said. “There are gas appliances, gas lines and propane tanks installed, none of those were ever permitted by the Fire Department.”Walker said the town is working with Garland to figure out what tenants need to leave this week and who can safely stay temporarily. “That would just give those residents time to find alternative housing prior to the cease and desist orders being posted on those properties,” Walker said.Tenants that spoke with News 9 were worried and upset.“The timing not only of Wednesday’s deadline but the time of year and what is going on, some families have kids and they are trying to do school, there is stress that everyone is feeling,” tenant Mark Wilson said. “We are not at fault here, but we are solely the ones being punished by the town for whatever missteps have happened along the way,” tenant Griffin Kelley said.
More than two dozen people in Peterborough are set to be evicted from their rental properties after town officials said they witnessed significant code violations.
The Walden Eco Village in Peterborough was created more than 12 years ago. Now, roughly 25 people live there.
“Tiny little houses, shared facilities, cooking and bathroom facilities, that sort of thing,” owner of the village Akhil Garland said.
Garland said he initiated a subdivision process, so people could own their own structures. He is working with town officials through that process.
“Safety has not been an issue, but now, all of a sudden, I’m told there is an imminent safety danger,” Garland said.
Town officials inspected 15 buildings in the village last Thursday, 14 of them are being rented. The Peterborough Fire Chief Ed Walker said they found several code violations that are raising major concerns.
“As example, for the electric, the cabins are powered by extension cords, they are daisy-chained from building to building providing power to those,” Walker said. “There are gas appliances, gas lines and propane tanks installed, none of those were ever permitted by the Fire Department.”
Walker said the town is working with Garland to figure out what tenants need to leave this week and who can safely stay temporarily.
“That would just give those residents time to find alternative housing prior to the cease and desist orders being posted on those properties,” Walker said.
Tenants that spoke with News 9 were worried and upset.
“The timing not only of Wednesday’s deadline but the time of year and what is going on, some families have kids and they are trying to do school, there is stress that everyone is feeling,” tenant Mark Wilson said.
“We are not at fault here, but we are solely the ones being punished by the town for whatever missteps have happened along the way,” tenant Griffin Kelley said.
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