Residents of the Rialto Apartment building on West Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area have reached out to WESH 2 News and expressed concern that their needs are not being met by the Rialto’s owner, Northland Investment Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts. They shared messaging from chat groups among tenants, saying the renters’ insurance carriers recommended by Northland are declining to provide money for temporary housing, food, transportation, and more, until a report is provided to Northland by a privately-hired engineering firm. All of this was triggered by a 911 call from a woman living in the Rialto Thursday morning. She said her door would not open and she needed to be rescued from her unit. Orange County Fire and Rescue came to help her and other tenants stuck in their units, and then discovered cracks and other signs that the building’s safety might be compromised.The Rialto was evacuated, leaving 200 units empty and nearly 350 people needing relocation. After a quick review by county building safety officials, the Rialto was shut down until the owner’s engineering firm could take a look on Friday. At that time, a spokesperson for Northland, Tori Faieta, provided WESH 2 News with this statement:“This is a fluid situation, and we are working across several fronts. Engineers have been on-site since yesterday and are evaluating conditions on a unit-by-unit basis across 200 apartments and the building overall to better understand the situation and determine next steps. We recognize the disruption this has caused for our residents and are in regular communication to support them, including helping identify temporary accommodations for the next few days.” While the company may be helping tenants “identify temporary accommodations,” residents tell WESH 2 News Northland has not offered to pay for those expenses and has instead referred them to their insurance carriers. Some residents said they opted to obtain renters’ insurance from companies not recommended by Northland. They said Saturday that their living and meal expenses are being covered while they await word on when they may be able to return to the Rialto to either retrieve their valuables or return to permanent living. Northland is allowing people to retrieve their vehicles from the garage, as long as they call ahead to be escorted by a staff member, and they can retrieve medicine from their units. Residents like Paul and Cecilia Collins drove up to the building on Saturday and told WESH 2 News, they’re hoping to get back in soon because they plan to keep right on living at the Rialto.“We have a great apartment. We overlook the lake. It’s beautiful. We love it. I don’t want to move for sure,” Paul said. The fitness club, spa, FedEx office and other businesses out front and on the ground floor of the Rialto also remain closed, which has disappointed customers who have driven up and discovered the businesses are temporarily closed. Also spotted Saturday, trucks full of packing materials that roughly a dozen people carried into the Rialto, along with large stacks of cardboard boxes.

DOCTOR PHILLIPS, Fla. —

Residents of the Rialto Apartment building on West Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area have reached out to WESH 2 News and expressed concern that their needs are not being met by the Rialto’s owner, Northland Investment Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts.

They shared messaging from chat groups among tenants, saying the renters’ insurance carriers recommended by Northland are declining to provide money for temporary housing, food, transportation, and more, until a report is provided to Northland by a privately-hired engineering firm.

All of this was triggered by a 911 call from a woman living in the Rialto Thursday morning.

She said her door would not open and she needed to be rescued from her unit. Orange County Fire and Rescue came to help her and other tenants stuck in their units, and then discovered cracks and other signs that the building’s safety might be compromised.

The Rialto was evacuated, leaving 200 units empty and nearly 350 people needing relocation.

After a quick review by county building safety officials, the Rialto was shut down until the owner’s engineering firm could take a look on Friday.

At that time, a spokesperson for Northland, Tori Faieta, provided WESH 2 News with this statement:

“This is a fluid situation, and we are working across several fronts. Engineers have been on-site since yesterday and are evaluating conditions on a unit-by-unit basis across 200 apartments and the building overall to better understand the situation and determine next steps. We recognize the disruption this has caused for our residents and are in regular communication to support them, including helping identify temporary accommodations for the next few days.”

While the company may be helping tenants “identify temporary accommodations,” residents tell WESH 2 News Northland has not offered to pay for those expenses and has instead referred them to their insurance carriers.

Some residents said they opted to obtain renters’ insurance from companies not recommended by Northland. They said Saturday that their living and meal expenses are being covered while they await word on when they may be able to return to the Rialto to either retrieve their valuables or return to permanent living.

Northland is allowing people to retrieve their vehicles from the garage, as long as they call ahead to be escorted by a staff member, and they can retrieve medicine from their units.

Residents like Paul and Cecilia Collins drove up to the building on Saturday and told WESH 2 News, they’re hoping to get back in soon because they plan to keep right on living at the Rialto.

“We have a great apartment. We overlook the lake. It’s beautiful. We love it. I don’t want to move for sure,” Paul said.

The fitness club, spa, FedEx office and other businesses out front and on the ground floor of the Rialto also remain closed, which has disappointed customers who have driven up and discovered the businesses are temporarily closed.

Also spotted Saturday, trucks full of packing materials that roughly a dozen people carried into the Rialto, along with large stacks of cardboard boxes.