Military housing firm cites progress in mold abatement

By Corinne Reilly The Virginian-Pilot March 24, 2012

Despite delays that Lincoln Military Housing blames on new state standards related to mold, the company has made marked progress in cleaning up hundreds of its houses across Hampton Roads, Lincoln officials said this week.

But for several families who may sue over the issue, it's too little, too late, according to their lawyer.

A private company based in Texas, Lincoln manages roughly 4,400 Navy rental homes in southeast Virginia, some of them on bases and others in neighborhoods nearby. In November, a TV station began airing reports that many of the company's properties were infested with mold. Families alleged that Lincoln repeatedly failed to fix leaks and water intrusions, allowing mold to grow. They told of collapsed ceilings and spongy walls filled with visible fungus, and some residents said they'd been made sick.

Lincoln and the Navy initially denied widespread problems, but after local congressmen got involved, the company promised independent home inspections for all residents who asked for them, remediation for all units found to have moisture problems or mold, and a change in maintenance contractors. Lincoln also fired some workers and moved dozens of concerned families into hotels.

In an interview Thursday, the company's president, Jarl Bliss, said that while Lincoln is making headway, one unexpected roadblock has slowed progress: state standards adopted last year for the licensing of mold inspectors and remediators. Bliss said that because Virginia's requirements reached further than many other states, the companies that Lincoln hired to conduct the tests have had a hard time recruiting enough certified inspectors.

"I wish we could go faster. I know there have been some frustrations," he said. "But given the circumstances, I'm pleased with where we are."

In the months that have passed since the mold problems were exposed, Lincoln has identified roughly 800 homes in need of independent testing. Of those, about 550 have been inspected, and Lincoln has received results for about 300. Bliss said roughly one-fifth have come back calling for significant mold or moisture remediation. Some of the others have recommended minimal fixes. The work has included everything from the special cleaning of hard surfaces and installation of air filters to the replacement of carpet, walls and ceilings.

About 30 Lincoln families are living in hotels, waiting for repairs to be finished.

Bliss called the cleanup a "multimillion-dollar effort" and one that Lincoln is committed to getting right.

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Military housing firm cites progress in mold abatement