RICHMOND, Va. — Residents and families of the Bacon Retirement Community in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood are expressing growing concerns over ongoing issues with the facility’s living conditions, particularly the lack of hot water and inconsistent heat in some units.
Celestine Harvey, daughter of a resident at the community, shared that her mother had been without hot water for three months. “For my mother, it’s been out for three months,” said Harvey. “I knew a couple of other people had it, too, and they [Bacon leadership] were supposed to have a meeting Friday [Jan. 31.]”
The meeting, intended to address the ongoing hot water issues and inconsistent heating in the building, was abruptly canceled without explanation. Harvey was informed by staff that the meeting had been called off, leaving her and other residents’ families frustrated and disappointed. “I went up, she [a worker] came out and said, ‘Excuse me, upper management said the meeting is canceled, thank you,’ and she walked away,” Harvey recalled. “I felt like that wasn’t a good enough excuse, especially without explaining to seniors why they were given such a response. I was appalled.”
In a video filmed by Harvey, a worker is heard telling her, “Ma’am, I really don’t have to answer you, because you are not a resident.” Harvey, who advocates for her mother—who suffers from dementia—was left further disheartened by this response.
Following the canceled meeting, Harvey took matters into her own hands, speaking with other residents to determine how many were affected by the lack of hot water. Many reported similar problems, with some residents unable to access hot water for long periods of time. Harvey also described a troubling scene involving her mother, stating, “She [my mom] was using pliers to turn on her cold water and it wouldn’t turn off. That water ran for a whole month.”
As a result of the ongoing issues, Harvey organized a protest outside the Bacon Retirement Community on Sunday and Monday. The demonstration, aimed at drawing attention to the concerns of residents, was met with a heavy police presence. “After the protest was over, I went upstairs to speak to my mom—and to thaw out, because I had been out there for three hours,” said Harvey. “When I came back down, I was greeted with eight cops telling me that I was banned from the property, and if I came back, I would face a class A misdemeanor for trespassing.”
Although she was not issued a formal written warning, Harvey reported that the verbal warning has kept her away from the property since then. She remains determined to advocate for her mother and other residents.
In response to these ongoing concerns, Main Street Realty, which manages Bacon Retirement Community, issued a statement addressing the hot water issues. According to the company, the water heaters at the facility have been functioning properly and were inspected twice by city code inspectors last week. During the first inspection, the water temperature was found to be appropriate. However, during a second inspection on January 31, the water temperature was recorded at 110 degrees Fahrenheit, falling short of the city code requirement of 120 degrees.
In their statement, Main Street Realty outlined that they had already ordered two additional boilers to ensure hot water temperatures meet or exceed the required standards. These boilers are expected to be delivered and installed by the end of the week.
Despite the company’s assurance, many residents, including Harvey, have reported that the water still feels too cold for comfort. “My mom still can’t sit in the water without boiling it first,” Harvey said. “Seniors matter.”
A City Hall meeting has been scheduled for February 10, where Harvey and other concerned community members plan to raise their grievances. Residents and their families are urging anyone who is able to attend to help bring attention to the issues facing the Bacon Retirement Community.
As the community continues to grapple with these living conditions, residents and their families are left hoping that their concerns will be addressed before the situation worsens.
