CRANSTON, R.I. -- Some residents of the Willowbrook Apartments in Cranston say they are fed up with the noise and inconvenience caused by workers who are repairing damage caused by the March flooding.
They've peppered their community with fliers asking other residents to contact NBC 10 for help with what they're calling an ongoing construction problem at the complex.
Willowbrook was particularly hard hit during the March flooding. Construction is being done to get tenants back inside their apartments, but some residents who were not flooded out said those repairs are causing some major headaches.
"It's disappointing, frustrating and nonetheless, it's disrespectful," said Jeff Carvalho, a Willowbrook tenant.
Carvalho said the living conditions have become unbearable.
"We're walking into a building with no carpets, with plastic hanging from the walls, Dumpsters taking up six to seven parking spots at a time," Carvalho said.
Another complaint for residents is the noise level. They said construction noise goes on around the clock, seven days a week.
NBC 10 took the complaints to Picerne Management, which owns Willowbrook. The company said the repair work must go on.
"I think that a lot of people are happy that we're working as fast, around the clock, (and) as much as possible seven days a week," Picerne spokesman Gregg Perry said. "I can appreciate that they may not be happy."
"At least adjust our rent and accommodate us a little bit for dealing with this," Carvalho said.
Management said it understands the inconvenience to residents, but Perry said a discount is unlikely.
"Unfortunately, that isn't something that we can do. And I would wonder what folks who have a single-family home -- do banks give them a break on their mortgage payments?" Perry said.
"It's just sad to see the way that they react towards us. I understand that it's a business. But to make us pay for it as well, it's not fair," Carvalho said.
Picerne said residents who did not want to live at the complex after the flood were allowed to break their leases or be moved to another Picerne property.
Management said it plans to install carpet in five of the 10 buildings where work is being performed next week. The other buildings will be done when the rest of the carpet is delivered.
Picerne said it expects most of the work to be complete by mid-summer, maybe sooner.
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