Code enforcement officials condemned another Westbrook apartment building Tuesday after dangerous electrical issues were found on the property.

On Tuesday afternoon, multiple residents of 683 Main St. were coping with the news that the building was condemned, forcing a dozen residents to leave their apartments by 2 p.m.

David Fenochetti, a Westbrook code enforcement officer, said the process mimicked that of 158 Brackett St. about two weeks ago, when 23 people were displaced. He said a tenant called City Hall with a concern, which prompted code enforcement to look at the building.

Since that time, the families have been staying at local hotels, with no sign of if or when they will be able to return to their apartments – something that the residents on Main Street will also face.

Fenochetti said the building had considerable electrical issues, which he called “identical” problems to the ones found at the Brackett Street building. He said it was his first time in the building, which houses 11 units, but that the city had dealt with “exterior issues” in the past.

Westbrook’s Fire Inspector, Michael Corey, who was also on scene Tuesday, said the building had only five units occupied. He estimated roughly a dozen people lived in the building.

The yellow L-shaped building lies across from the Casa Novello restaurant on Main Street. Corey said City National Bank, based in California, owns the building.

Brendan Collins, one of the tenants of the building, was putting possessions into the trunk of his car Tuesday.

“We just found out a couple hours ago that we have until 2 o’clock,” he said, adding that he didn’t know why. “I was at work when it happened.”

Later in the day, a U-Haul truck was parked in the lot outside the building.

Fenochetti said the building owner has a preservation company that will assist the tenants in the meantime.

“It should be good, for a bad situation,” he said.

An expanded story will appear in this week’s American Journal, Thursday, July 9.

Red signs from city code enforcement were posted on each door at 683 Main St. on Tuesday, notifying residents that the building was condemned. It’s the second such instance of Westbrook officials condemning a building in a matter of weeks.

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