GAINSWave Therapy in Mantua, VA

Así lo denuncian vecinos de Mantua, inmueble evacuado en 2013 por fallas en su construcción y con un reforzamiento pendiente. Propietarios niegan la ocupación.

La habitación de un edificio con orden de evacuación causa preocupación en el barrio Las Lomas n° 2, en El Poblado. Se trata del edificio Mantua, una construcción de 14 pisos y cinco sótanos evacuada en octubre de 2013, 11 días después del desplome de Space.

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Resulta que ahora el lugar está siendo habitado, pese a no haber ejecutado todavía el reforzamiento exigido por la ley. Dicen los vecinos que la edificación se está usando como un Airbnb y, aunque la administración desvirtúa la versión, lo cierto es que son varios los apartamentos amoblados y hasta tienen anuncio de alquiler en internet.

El edificio, a simple vista, luce inhabitado. Pero desde muy temprano, previo al medio día, se advierte el movimiento. La zona es de vocación mixta, aunque la oferta hotelera opaca la residencial. Varios vehículos ingresan al parqueadero del otrora edificio Mantua, mientras que desde abajo se ven algunos apartamentos con las ventanas abiertas, cortinas instaladas y hasta ropa tendida. Ya desde los edificios vecinos las imágenes que se observan son más dicientes: hay camas destendidas, mascotas y salas con dotación completa. En otros apartamentos el balcón tiene jardín y antena de DirecTV.

“Parece como abandonado, pero ahí sí hay gente. Hay un apartamento ocupado en el piso 11 desde hace meses. Incluso la persona que vive ahí tiene escoltas. El movimiento se ve más que todo en la mañana”, afirma una trabajadora del sector. En las inmediaciones, otras personas amplían la versión: sostienen que son entre cinco y seis los apartamentos habitados y que esto viene ocurriendo desde hace un año, por lo menos. “Sí. Entran muchos carros: se ven espacios como oficinas, salas con muebles y cuadros”, dice una fuente.

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En la zona, de hecho, hay personas que han visto la evolución de la edificación desde antes de 2013. Una de ellas, que prefiere reservar su identidad, recuerda lo ocurrido: “Este tuvo problemas a la semana de Space. Antes eso era monte. Vi la construcción y cómo, sin terminar, evacuaron a los trabajadores. Hay partes que no tienen cocina ni nada. No alcanzaron ni a estrenarlo. Lo cerraron. Se quedó quieto, hasta hace un año que comenzó el movimiento”. Justo esto es lo que hoy causa inquietud en el sector.

El porqué de la evacuación

La actividad que denuncian los vecinos de Mantua y que EL COLOMBIANO confirmó no responde, por el momento, a un levantamiento de las medidas exigidas por las autoridades de gestión del riesgo. Pero, previo a revisar el tejemaneje legal, volvamos en el tiempo: el complejo residencial fue concebido bajo la figura de Vivienda de Interés Prioritario, con aprobación de la Curaduría Cuarta de Medellín. Sus diseños estructurales estuvieron a cargo de Jorge Aristizábal Ochoa, el mismo ingeniero que trabajó en los edificios Space y Continental Towers —ya demolidos— y Asensi —aún en pie—, de la constructora CDO.

Fue un informe del Dagrd publicado en marzo de 2014 el que confirmó lo que implicó la evacuación de 40 trabajadores que avanzaban en las labores de construcción: el documento reseñó entonces procesos estructurales insuficientes, además de estudios geotécnicos que no representaban las condiciones del subsuelo de la obra. También hubo insuficiencias en el cumplimiento de las normas de sismorresistencia para una edificación de este tipo: de cinco perforaciones a 30 metros de profundidad, en Mantua solo se ejecutaron tres, con 22,5 metros de profundidad. Este parte técnico resultó en el cierre de la edificación que, a hoy, cuenta con una licencia de reforzamiento activa, según Elizabeth Valencia, administradora del edificio.

De por medio hay dos documentos: una resolución de la Curaduría Segunda de Medellín, emitida el 12 de febrero de 2021, que concedió el aval para el proceso de reforzamiento estructural en un área de 7.859 metros cuadrados y, entre otros, ordenó: “Ejecutar las obras de forma que se garantice la salubridad y seguridad de las personas, así como la estabilidad de los terrenos, edificaciones vecinas y de los elementos constitutivos del espacio público”. El otro es una solicitud de prórroga de 12 meses, radicada en enero pasado, porque el reforzamiento no se dio en el tiempo estipulado.

Responden los dueños

La documentación mencionada soporta en qué va el proceso de reforzamiento, pero el quid del asunto es la habitación de la edificación. Le preguntamos a Valencia por esta situación y, en persona, al interior de las instalaciones de Mantua, negó los señalamientos. Afirmó que el edificio no está habitado y que el movimiento que se ha registrado es por cuenta de los ingenieros. Sobre los apartamentos amoblados, con evidente actividad, agregó: “Es una fachada, que se vea que está habitado, porque nos podría pasar lo de Continental Towers, que lo desmantelen”.

Tras no precisar si el lugar opera o no bajo la modalidad Airbnb, Valencia nos conectó con Fernando Hurtado, constructor a cargo del inmueble. Este insistió en la versión de la administradora, al sostener que adelantan labores de mantenimiento para evitar el deterioro de los apartamentos. “Tenemos ingenieros que entran y salen todo el tiempo: calculistas, revisores estructurales, arquitectos. La idea es programar los trabajos que se van a hacer acá”, expresó. Hurtado no negó la presencia de personas en Mantua, pero insistió en que son socios que “vienen, revisan y se van de nuevo para sus casas”; que la licencia vigente concibe el ingreso de personas bajo los protocolos de salud y gestión del riesgo respectivos.

La Alcaldía no se pronunció, pero con un anuncio publicado en la página de Airbnb basta para confirmar la preocupación de los vecinos de Mantua: por $265.000 promocionan la noche en un apartamento de 35 metros cuadrados ubicado en el piso 12 del edificio. “Disfruta de tu estadía en este aparta loft, con una ubicación excelente en todo el corazón de El Poblado, a tan solo cuatro minutos de Provenza y el Parque Lleras. Tiene una vista espectacular”, publicitan.

There is a section of the Cross-County Trail winding through the Fairfax County community of Mantua that is a big plus for Elizabeth Schaefer Wassel, a cyclist who lived there as a child and moved back as an adult to take advantage of the bike trails, roads, public transportation and overall location that make the neighborhood popular.

“I use lots of trails,” Wassel said, including a short, zigzagging path to the W&OD Trail in the county bike trail network. “On Thursdays, we go west to Herndon — they have a farmers market,” she said.

The informal bike group is one of several groups she belongs to in Mantua, a community of more than 1,500 homes in the central part of Fairfax County, with quick access to Route 66, Interstate 495 and the Orange Line Metro stations at Vienna and Dunn Loring. A Metro bus line runs on Little River Turnpike that her husband uses to go to the Pentagon, where he hops on the subway for the rest of his commute.

“He prefers that over sitting in traffic,” she said. “He made the decision to not have a car — we’re in my car now.”

Transportation is just one plus for Mantua, which is dominated by shade trees, dead-end streets, the community pool and tennis club, and the park that splits the community from east to west, with Accotink Creek running through the middle.

These features are a backdrop for houses ranging from 1960s split-levels and ramblers to California modern and the larger infill homes that are popping up on lots throughout Mantua, giving it a heterogenous aura.

Recreation: Troy Sponaugle, a real estate agent with Troy Property Pros, doesn’t hesitate to point out the convenient location when showing a property in Mantua. Although the highways are close by, the noise is minimal because of its location. “It’s in that perfect spot,” Sponaugle said.

Anne and Sarah Harrington are a mother and daughter real estate team out of the Vienna Long & Foster office who also live in Mantua. The neighborhood togetherness and the popularity of the pool and tennis club keep them involved. “We listed 24 of the 60 homes that sold last year,” Sarah Harrington said. “The neighborhood is known for it’s larger lots,” she added.

Neighborhood children are involved with the swim teams at the club, adults play tennis, and for the hikers and bicyclists, there is the Eakin Community Park trail along Accotink Creek that goes all the way to Springfield. Every June, there is a neighborhood parade. “It’s really fun — the kids decorate their bikes,” said Sarah Harrington.

Eakin Community Park is a 57-acre county park that is managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority. The Accotink Trail follows the path of Accotink Creek and is part of the larger Cross County Trail, which runs north-south across Fairfax County.

Wassel’s children were on the swim team, and the pool and tennis club is a good place to meet people in the community, she said. “My kids all did swim team and enjoyed that; with or without kids, it’s good to have that,” she said.

In January, the club held a casino night, which was a big hit, said Mark Quigley, swim club president. “This is a chance for neighbors to have a good time with other neighbors right in our community,” he said. Residents also hold a chili cook-off, a master brewers’ brew-off and an Army-Navy football game gathering in early December.

There is an informal Mantua Citizens’ Association. The group’s goals, according to its website, are to foster among its members a spirit of mutual cooperation and assistance; to promote a sense of civic responsibility; to be the means for the community to act together on civic matters of mutual interest; and to organize for the promotion of social welfare. It is open to nonresident property owners and tenants within the geographical boundaries of Mantua.

More recently, a neighborhood network has sought to help older residents stay in their homes, and Wassel has been part of it. It was initiated through email and is not run by the citizens association. “There’s a network of people that want to help with that,” Wassel said. “That’s really grown; there’s many original owners in the neighborhood.”

Living there: The eastern side of Mantua borders Prosperity Avenue and is dotted with one-third- to one-half-acre lots with a variety of houses from different builders, giving the community a country vibe. Some older, smaller houses have been replaced by houses twice as big, as is happening all over the county. Strips of larger houses are being built on the outer fringe of Mantua, with prices starting at $1 million.

In the western part of the community, marked by Prince William Drive, which runs north-south, there are smaller houses with a subdivision feel that are more affordable for younger families. Pickett Road borders Mantua on the west, but it does not connect to any of the neighborhood roads, and there is a hill between it and the community.

During the past year, 61 houses sold in Mantua, ranging from a five-bedroom, three-bath 2,800 square-foot split level at $650,000 to a six-bedroom, five-bath 3,700-square-foot Colonial at $1,195,000.

There are two houses for sale and five under contract, ranging from a five-bedroom, three-bath house for $674,000 to a four-bedroom, three-bath house listed at $815,000.

Crime: According to crimereports.com , in the past six months, there were 29 incidents, including three assaults, one breaking-and-entering, one stolen vehicle, and an assortment of drug offenses, mostly in the southwestern section of Mantua near Little River Turnpike.

Burlington County veterans and their families will have the opportunity to learn about the many available programs, support services and benefits that are available to them during the upcoming Burlington County Veterans Expo.

The free event is organized by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department in partnership with the Burlington County Commissioners, and the Burlington County Department of Human Services that houses the Division of Military and Veterans Affairs. This year’s event will be held Oct. 11 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Student Success Center at Rowan College at Burlington County, 1500 College Circle, Mount Laurel.

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Nearly 40 agencies, nonprofits and vendors are expected to participate in this year’s expo, making it one of the largest events of its kind in South Jersey.

Among the agencies and groups that will be present at the event include: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Pension Management Center; the Crescenz VA Medical Center; the Burlington County Department of Human Services and Division of Military and Veterans Services; the Burlington County Health Department; Military OneSource; the New Jersey National Guard Soldier & Family Assistance Center; Solider On; Deborah Heart & Lung Center; HeroCare Connect; Helmets to Hardhats; Hampton Behavioral Health and many more.

“Burlington County is home to more than 30,000 veterans and we want all of them to know about the resources and services that exist to assist them and their families,” said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, the liaison for Military and Veterans Affairs. “The Veterans Expo brings together numerous government agencies, nonprofits and businesses to a single location so veterans can get information and answers without a long search or wait.”

Free medical screenings will also be offered at the expo, and the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department Community Services Unit will also be on location to make veterans photo identification cards.

The IDs are available to any veteran who was honorably discharged from service and are often used by veterans to receive certain discounts or courtesies offered by some businesses and governments for veterans.

“Since January 2021, our department has issued more than 100 of these identification cards to local veterans,” said Burlington County Undersheriff Jim Kostoplis. “It’s a great service that can assist those who stepped forward and served in our armed forces to defend our nation and the rights and freedoms we all hold dear.”

Veterans interested in obtaining a veterans ID card at the expo are advised to bring their DD214 discharge document and another form of photo identification, such as a New Jersey driver’s license.

Light refreshments will be served at the event and the first 300 veterans will also receive free tote bags.

“These men and women gave much to us, so this expo is a way for us to give back to them and let them know about the many services available in Burlington County,” Kostoplis said.

Burlington County’s population of veterans is the second largest of any county in New Jersey behind only Ocean County and it has won recognition as one of the most veteran-friendly locations in New Jersey because of its programs, services and honors for local veterans and military families.

The County Division of Military and Veterans Affairs also has a standout record of advocating for local veterans and assisting them with casework related to their benefits. So far this year, the division has assisted more than 3,000 veterans obtain over $10.5 million in compensation and benefits.

The Commissioners and Division of Military and Veterans Affairs also hold a medal ceremony each year to honor veterans who were honorably discharged and now reside in the community.

In addition, the division has a cemetery care program, which helps maintain veterans’ grave sites in over 96 cemeteries throughout Burlington County. Throughout the year, the county dispatches a part-time employee to clean up and cut the grass at any graves not maintained by cemetery staff. Staff also ensure that new flags are placed on each veteran’s grave before Memorial Day.

“Our board is incredibly proud that Burlington County is home to so many outstanding men and women from our military and we are committed to doing everything possible to honor and support them and their families,” Eckel added.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has awarded Burlington County its best grade for using grants for improving county roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

The commission assessed the county’s performance as part of its annual Pre-Award Risk Prequalification Assessment for the 2023 fiscal year. The assessment is required of all counties and municipalities in the DVRPC’s territory, which includes Burlington County and eight other counties in the Greater Philadelphia region.

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Burlington County was rated a “Low Risk” on the agency’s three-tier rating, which is the best available grade. It is based on an assessment of past county projects, grant awards, work experience, audit results and financial reporting.

“This rating tells us the grants provided by DVRPC to preserve and enhance our infrastructure are being used appropriately and Burlington County has been good stewards with those funds,” said Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion, the board’s liaison to the Burlington County Engineering Office and Department of Public Works. “It’s a great grade that will help us when we seek more federal funding for infrastructure improvements. It’s also a reflection on the outstanding work by the staff at our County Engineering Office and the other professionals who partner with us.”

Burlington County is the largest county in New Jersey and is responsible for maintaining more than 500 miles of county roads, 411 bridges and 700 culverts.

Last year, the county completed resurfacing on just over 28 miles of roadway in 17 municipalities as part of its annual overlay program. Burlington County has also employed Intelligent Transportation System technologies to coordinate traffic signals in the county to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow and safety and has deployed safety countermeasures to protect drivers and pedestrians.

Earlier this year, the county also completed the installation of a flood notification system to alert motorists about possible flood conditions on a stretch of County Route 542 in rural Washington Township.

“Public safety and quality of life are top priorities for our entire county and this rating is more evidence of the outstanding dedication of our County Engineering Office and Division of Public Works in maintaining and improving our transportation infrastructure,” said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, the Board’s Public Safety liaison. “It’s an enormous job, but we know it’s critically important to our residents and communities, and we continue to look for innovative ways to make sure traveling in Burlington County is as safe and convenient as possible.”

Mantua Twp. – One idyllic day late last week several events took place outdoors on the historic Mantua Center green as well as inside the Township Hall and Civic Center, historic area and structures created by settlers between 1835 and 1850.

Inside the Civic Center, Cincinnati-based artist and author Robert Kroeger returned to Mantua to conduct a painting demo, share some stories of the historic barns he’s visited and the many generations of people who have worked to preserve them. His visit coincided with an event held at Mantua Township’s Historic District. Kroeger paints historic barns using an impasto palette knife technique; something he began pursuing after retirement from a career in dentistry. He took on the goal of painting at least one barn from each of Ohio’s 88 counties. In 2020, the resulting barn paintings and essays have been compiled in his book titled, “Historic Barns of Ohio” (History Press/Acadia Publishing).

That day, Kroeger conducted a painting demo using a photo provided by local barn scout Heather Paisley, Kroeger shared highlights from some of the stories he’s uncovered. His book was released in 2020 and was available for sale at the event. Kroeger’s next book, a collection of paintings and essays featuring round barns that will be released this fall, was also available for pre-order. For more information on Kroeger and his projects, visit barnart.weebly.com. Books and merchandise can be purchased locally at the Villager Emporium in Garrettsville.

Local vendors lined the Civic Center, including 99-year-old Virginia Goodell, matriarch of the multigeneration family farm. Their maple products, as well as homemade soups and baked goods, courtesy of the Mantua Restoration Society, were a few of the items available for sale. Representatives from the Shalersville and Freedom Historical Societies participated in the event too. This featured a silent auction, an auction of several of Kroeger’s paintings and was a fundraising effort to benefit these local groups.

Outside on the green, history aficionados and Civil War reenactors Nick and Linda Ehlert were on hand in period-appropriate garb to share their knowledge of the Irish Brigade and the US war that began in 1861. At Eastlawn Cemetery, visitors viewed the graves of locals who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and War of 1812. According to Lynne Harvey, the grave of Melissa Reed is the oldest gravestone, dating to 1812 or 15; weather has obscured the inscription on the limestone marker.

The Mantua Center Christian Church was open for tours that day, as well. It’s the oldest Disciples of Christ congregation in Ohio and the fourth oldest in the entire denomination. While services began in the nearby schoolhouse in 1827, the present building was erected in 1840, and has been in continuous use since then. In fact, James A. Garfield preached to congregants on several occasions at Mantua Center in the 1850’s.

Next door at the Township Hall, guests were treated to the music of Moonshadow (featuring Skip Schweitzer, Sarah Harvey, and Cal Craig). The musicians performed on the first floor, thanks to a stipend provided by the Ohio History Connection Open Door program. On the second floor, visitors had the opportunity to tour the Historical Society Museum. The museum houses collections of photographs, documents, clothing, and objects of significance from Mantua Township, Mantua Village, and the Crestwood School District.

The Historical Society received a generous grant last spring from the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, which provided archival storage boxes and supplies to help protect and preserve these items for future generations. The next step is to digitize materials to make the collection more readily accessible to researchers and the community. Donations of local items as well as financial contributions are always welcome. Contact mantuahistorical@gmail.com to find out more.

Samaritan is committed to honoring veterans and their families by providing care that recognizes their military service and responds to their unique needs through respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment. Each year, the not-for-profit healthcare provider serves nearly 500 veterans through a range of life-enhancing services at any stage of serious illness.

On Oct. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Samaritan is hosting Veteran-Centric Care Across the Continuum – a free virtual conference for professionals in healthcare, veteran services and community providers focusing on the importance of providing veteran-centric care in all healthcare settings, how to improve the experience of care and services provided to the veteran community and how to best guide veterans and their families in identifying other services and supports.

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This conference is presented in collaboration with the New Jersey Healthcare Association; the Cooper University Health Care and Deborah Heart and Lung Center HeroCare Connect™ program; the New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs; Veterans Affairs NJ Healthcare System Community Care Network; and Opus Peace. The conference will offer informative programming – from featured speakers to panel presentations – emphasizing the important of providing specialized, veteran-centric care across the healthcare continuum. Deborah Grassman, NP, the CEO/Founder of Opus Peace, will be delivering the keynote address, entitled “PTSD, Moral Injury, Soul Injury: How to Become an Agent of Hope and Healing.” Continuing education credits for professionals will be available.

WHAT: Samaritan’s Veteran-Centric Care Across the Continuum Online Conference

WHEN: Oct. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: ONLINE – access information provided after RSVPing to the event.

AGENDA:

Sherry M. Sheppard, MD, MBA, Clinical Director of VANJHCS Community Care Network

DETAILS:

While the event is free and will be held online, RSVP is required. For more information and to RSVP, visit: https://samaritannj.org/hospice-blog-and-events/events/veterans-conference-veteran-centric-care/

***NOTE: Link to access the online conference will be provided to attendees after RSVPing for the event.***

Contact Esther Folaranmi of Samaritan at (856) 552-3285 or info@SamaritanNJ.org for additional information and questions.