VALLEJO – On a chilly December evening, residents of Vallejo’s new housing project for people at risk of homelessness stood outside at 11:20 p.m. as a fire alarm blared in their new home. Young children in pajamas shivered in the 45-degree weather as they waited for firefighters to arrive and shut off the alarm. By then they were used to it: false fire alarms have become a hallmark of living at Blue Oak Landing.
The fire alarm has been going off randomly since residents started moving into the 74-unit project in late May, including at least 14 times since Oct. 30, often in the middle of the night.
It’s one of a litany of problems that residents have been facing over the last seven months. The Vallejo Sun interviewed four residents of Blue Oak Landing who say they have frequently been woken up by the constant alarms. They also said mail delivery still hasn’t started, the front door and gate to the parking lot has been broken and stuck open, and they have often been unable to reach a contracted security company.
All of the residents, who were formerly homeless, expressed gratitude that they now had a place to live. But they said that the disruptions to their sleep have made it hard to function, that the inability to receive mail has led to hardships, such as not being able to get prescription medications, and that the security issues have led to them not feeling safe there. The residents requested to remain anonymous because they did not want to jeopardize their housing.
Eden Housing, the affordable housing nonprofit that built the complex, acknowledged in an email to the Vallejo Sun that the fire alarm has been malfunctioning and residents had been unable to receive mail, but said that they were unaware of issues with security. “The contracted security firm is not aware of residents experiencing difficulty reaching them, and they are presently conducting three onsite check-ins after hours,” Eden spokesperson Birgit Johnston said.
The issues with the fire alarms have been going on since the building opened, residents said. One resident documented at least 14 false fire alarms since Oct. 30. The on-site property managers have been working with the alarm company to get it fixed, but the false alarms are continuing as of this week.
Vallejo Fire Department reports obtained through a public records request show that firefighters were called to Blue Oak Landing at 5:42 a.m. on Oct. 30 and at 6:14 a.m. on Oct. 31. In both cases, responding firefighters reported that they found no evidence of fire but were unable to reset the alarm systems. A property manager said they would follow up with the alarm company to fix the problem.
But nearly two months later, the alarm system continues to go off for no reason. One resident documented that the alarm went off on Nov. 22 at 1:45 a.m., on Nov. 25 at 8:39 p.m. and 10:58 p.m., on Nov. 27, on Dec. 9 at 11:20 p.m., on Dec. 11 at 1:45 a.m. and 9:25 p.m., on Dec 12 at 7:14 p.m., on Dec. 15 at 8:17 a.m., on Dec. 16 at 3:47 a.m., on Dec. 20 at 2:50 a.m. and on Dec. 21 at 8:21 a.m.
“The fire alarm has been traumatic,” one resident said. “I wake up so tired every time those alarms go off.”
Another issue facing residents since Blue Oak Landing opened is that they have been unable to receive mail at their home, and instead must go to the Post Office nearly a mile away to pick up their mail.
"I have been walking to the Post Office every day to get my mail,” one resident said. “It got to the point that I have to stop because I am so tired.”
Another resident says that she also doesn’t have a car, so she has to either walk to the Post Office or try to wait and get a ride there. In her case, she needs to have special medication delivered, but she can’t get it delivered to her address because of the ongoing issues with mail delivery.
Another resident said they are unable to receive free COVID tests from the federal government. The resident shared the response from the Post Office when they attempted to order the tests, which said Blue Oak Landing is ineligible because it’s a business address.
Johnston, the Eden spokesperson, said that Eden has been working with the U.S. Postal Service since May to try and set up mail delivery and that Eden staff has visited the Post Office every week to check on the status. “Despite these efforts, the situation remains unsolved,” Johnston said. “Consequently, we have involved City staff and reached out to the Congressman’s office to help expedite resolution to the matter.”
Meiko S. Patton, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service, said that the address used to be a single dwelling. “The owners of the new property must go to the city of Vallejo showing that this is now a multi-unit dwelling,” Patton said. “Once we receive that documentation from the city, we can update our Address Management services and mail delivery can begin.”
Residents also said that they are concerned with an overall lack of security. On Nov. 1, a resident shared a photo showing that the front door to the building was broken open and visibly open from the street. Residents say that building security has been scaled back since opening, and that the gate to the parking lot has been broken and open for months, allowing people who don’t live there to enter.
"My concern is the gate and these people just walking in there from out on the streets,” one resident said. “I'm praying that they will fix that gate because it's been broken ever since we moved in here."
The resident said that when she first moved in the building had 24-hour security, but now security has scaled back to the point where guards come by a few times a night, and don’t go upstairs.
Johnston, the Eden spokesperson, said that Eden regularly assesses security needs at its properties and makes adjustments. “Since the opening of Blue Oak Landing, we have modified the timing and intensity of security measures,” she said. “Ongoing collaboration with our staff and the security company ensures that we will make further adjustments as needed.”
She said residents are instructed to call 911 in case of violent activities and the security firm for any other concerns.
But the resident said that the feeling that anyone can enter the building has created a general sense of unease in the property.
"When I come outside my door, I am terrified," she said. "Anybody is coming in here. Any and everybody who wants to come in."
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