Tenants unable to return to apartments nearly a week after gas leak

Dallas residents are still waiting to get back into their apartments and Dallas Fire Rescue says it could be a few more days.

Dozens of residents of Dallas’ Design District are waiting to get back into their apartments after a gas leak was discovered nearby. It’s been nearly a week since they’ve had access, and officials said the wait is not over.

Where Turtle Creek Boulevard meets E. Levee Street, work continues throughout the day around the Factory Design District Apartments.

It’s been this way since last Friday evening, when Atmos Energy identified what they’ve called a “natural gas release.”

Dallas Fire Rescue said all 325 units were evacuated. NBC 5 was told residents were given hotel accommodation. Still, they said it’s been much too long without a definitive timeline.

“Since Friday they say ‘oh they’re working on the leak’ and then ‘oh it’s going to be tomorrow morning’ and then ‘it’s going to be 12:00 Saturday like 12:00 pm you’re able to go back inside,’” said frustrated resident Chiara Cappelletti.

Six days later, tenants are still not back inside their units. Our cameras were on scene on Friday night as the situation unfolded. At the time, residents did not know what would come next.

In the latest statement from Atmos Energy, NBC 5 learned restoration was done in phases.

The press release said in part, “After the building has been cleared for gas, Oncor restores power to the building one floor at a time while DFR personnel check for potential electrical issues.”

Atmos said phases one and two are now complete, and in a final step, the building was turned back over to apartment management.

Dallas Fire Rescue, also in a recent statement, said residents will likely not be allowed back into their apartments until Friday. The department said, according to management, deep cleaning and repairs are needed.

“I have to go to work; I have to take my child to school,” said Cappelletti. “You don’t want to be stuck in a hotel; you want to be back home, but you’re not able to go back.”