Valley Vista residents stay in motels while fire repairs drag on

Thirty-one units at the Valley Vista apartments in Mission Valley remain uninhabitable two weeks after a fire on Oct. 11 triggered the building's sprinkler system.

The water damage from the sprinklers affected the units above the fire on the fourth floor. Residents who lived in those apartments have been staying in motels, including one near the I-805 in Clairemont, since the incident.

Marcie Pacheco, a resident of Valley Vista, said she spent five years living on the streets before securing a unit at the complex. She described the current wait as a disruption to the stability she and her neighbors finally achieved.

Pacheco said the group has received very little information from the San Diego Housing Commission regarding the status of their personal property or the specific repair schedule. "We have zero communication as what's going on with any of our belongings, anything that's going on with the fire repairs," she said.

Lisa Jones, the president and CEO of the Housing Commission, addressed these concerns in an interview. Jones stated that the commission has informed residents that their belongings are being stored and not disposed of. She explained that the commission has not set a fixed date for everyone to return because the extent of water damage varies by unit. Jones indicated that the estimated repair timeline is three to four weeks.

Jones said the commission is providing a 24-hour services line and food deliveries to the displaced tenants during the remediation process. She acknowledged that residents are anxious about when they can come home, but noted that the repairs are still ongoing.

Pacheco said she hopes to return to her apartment soon. She believes that more frequent updates from housing officials would help reduce the stress for those still living in temporary accommodations.