HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - After a Hialeah apartment building ceiling collapsed, with no quick fix in sight, leaving families with no place to live, the building owner is meeting with city officials.

Ring doorbell video showed firefighters knocking on tenants’ doors after that collapse, Monday.

A day after part of a walkway collapsed at a Hialeah apartment building, questions are being raised.

“We need help and we need answers,” said Sujey Alfaro, a tenant in the building.

The building’s owner, Jorge Alvarino, met with city leaders to plan what’s next for the apartment and its tenants on Tuesday.

“Hopefully they expedite the demolition process to start rehabbing the building against structural safe to move the tenants back in,” said Alvarino.

The owner said he needs permits and more information on the amount of work that needs to be done to the building to ensure the safety of the residents of the property. It could be months before families can move back in.

The building has now been boarded up and after Alvarino met with officials, he told them he is willing to pay for all the costs, including hiring his own engineer to look at things, so they can make the fixes needed.

City officials also said they will have an engineer inspect the building, as well.

“So, as far as I know, the initial structure that holds the building is OK,” said Alvarino. “It’s mostly the roofing and the face shelf of the building that is a little more cracked and bad shape. I don’t know how because the 40-year recertification was done only four years ago.”

Hialeah Mayor Estaban Bovo told 7News the 60-year-old building had passed its recertification in 2018, which was before the current owner purchased the building in 2020.

Bovo also promised the city would look into the collapse and on Tuesday, he released a statement reading in part: “…some concerning circumstances have come to light…all the families are being helped — and there will be a thorough investigation and all of the concerning circumstances. My administration stands ready to assist with any investigation that may uncover any possible wrongdoing.”

“There is damage to the building, there are some hairline fractures– best I could describe them,” said Bovo. “There’s some wear and tear, exposed rebar. You can put lipstick on a pig and clean it up as quickly as possible, but the reality is it needs to be a little bit more in-depth.”

The mayor mentioned the engineer who signed off on the letter that stated the building was safe may have passed away in 2017; city officials are looking into the claim as they recently learned of this information.

Officials said in 2019, they received the recertification package that included the signed letter and verified the engineers were in good standing.

State records showed the engineer was licensed in Florida. City and state officials are working together to get the situation settled.

Fortunately, no one was hurt but a dozen or so people are now left without a home.

In Spanish, Maria Hernandez told 7News, “Thank God we’re outside the apartment.”

Mariela Campos said she saw a big crack and recorded it and thought the roof would fall.

But after what happened Monday, there are now concerns about that.

On Tuesday, some tenants could be seen packing up some of their things as they figure out where they are supposed to go and what they’re going to do next.

“Right now it’s my responsibility as to find them housing as soon as possible,” said Alvarino.

Alvarino said his main focus is to figure out what led to the incident that happened on Monday and to help tenants find temporary housing.

“I will be working with my attorneys to help find housing for these families for as long as the work needs to be finished,” said Alvarino.

Families said they hope to hear clear plans about what their next steps are soon.

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