Phoenix Apartment Complex Goes Smokefree

Contact: Laurie Thomas
Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program
Phone: 480 540-6050

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2010

MANISTEE MANOR GOES SMOKEFREE

Manistee Manor Senior Apartments will go completely smokefree on April 1, 2010, according to Debi Widahl, property manager. This 75 multi housing unit is following the

July 2009 HUD document that “strongly recommended all HUD funded properties go smokefree or partially smokefree.”

A celebration will be held at Manistee Manor located at 7987 N. 53rd Ave. Glendale, AZ at 1 pm on Thursday, April 1. An award will be presented by the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

Sue Bergquist, Community Development Specialist in Multi Housing says, “Manistee Manor has gone above and beyond in setting the standard for multihousing. Smoke‐free multi‐housing is a critical frontier that needs to be promoted to protect the health of non smoking residents. Residents often experience exposure to secondhand smoke that migrates into their apartments through common air ducts and walls under which they have no recourse under most state clean indoor air acts.”

While considering the decision to become smokefree, Manistee Manor had a smoking related fire that could have been disastrous. It occurred on a balcony at 3:00 in the morning. The heat was so intense it melted the metal railing. Someone adjacent to the building saw the fire and called the fire department. Luckily it was contained. Smoking is the number one cause of residential fires.*

Residents were notified in April 2009 that the property would go smokefree in April 2010. A few residents chose to move, some quit and some agreed to smoke off the property.

Interviewed residents say they are thrilled and have thanked management for their decision. Management now has a waiting list for tenants who want a smokefree environment.

According to Bergquist, “This is an exciting time in multi-housing. We have many Phoenix properties that have gone smokefree or are in the process of going smokefree. Each property is unique so they are selecting the smokefree policy that works best for them and their residents.  Some are grandfathering smokers; as the smoker moves out they will make the apartment smokefree. Others are making all apartments smokefree but will provide an outdoor designated smoking area.”

Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program was instrumental in helping Manistee go smokefree. It provided a Tobacco 101 presentation to residents, information regarding the state-funded ASHLine that provides free online or phone cessation counseling for those that want to quit, and sample document language for the property owners. If your organization/complex is interested in going smokefree please call Sue Bergquist at

602 372-8435.

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About Arizona Smokers’ Helpline ASHLine

Funded by the state tax on tobacco products, the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline and ASHLine.org has been helping people quit tobacco since 1995. Free telephone and Web-based quit services are provided as well as free training and technical assistance to healthcare providers statewide. For information about quit smoking services around the state, call 1-800-55-66-222 or visit www.ASHLine.org.

*U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Data Center Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties Topical Fire Research Series, Volume 5 – Issue 3June 2005