Code Enforcement Cracks Down on LR Apartment Complex
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: June 13, 2012
A mother of five living in an apartment with code violations shared her concerns with KARK Wednesday.
Single mom Jennifer George says she was looking to make life better for children when she moved to Avondale Apartments.
"I was staying in a two bedroom, it was small, it was what I could afford and I thought we would get something better," she said.
But it turned out to be one of her worst moves yet.
"I was told it could catch on fire because it's electrical and there was water dripping," she said pointing to her hot water heater.
George showed us loose wires near puddles of standing water around her water heater. She could barely stand to open the dishwasher, the stench from the stained water filling her home.
"When I opened it up recently there were maggots in there and black mold all around the dishwasher in there," she said.
George showed e-mails where she'd asked management for help back in January. A file at the city attorney's office shows the problems at Avondale go back to 2009.
New owners took over in May but the same problems persist.
"I'm concerned about the health hazards as far as my kids," said
So is the city of Little Rock. Wednesday code enforcement issued two 24 hour notices for management to repair exposed wires.
The new management now taking responsibilities for problems they didn't create.
"I can't apologize enough for the previous management's company's misdeeds and misjudgments," said Assistant Manager Trinikka Jackson.
Jackson says the new managers are ready to pour $2.2 million into renovations, hoping to turn the complex around.
"I hate it, there were a lot of awful things happening here, we have a full plate in here, we care."
But some tenants, including George are so fed up, they simply want out.
"It makes me feel bad, it dampens my spirit that we have to live like this," said George.
Jackson said some tenants are so fed up they've stopped paying rent altogether, but now they have a balance they have to pay off before they can be moved to a new apartment.
The city will be back Thursday to make sure safety violations in George's apartment are fixed. Code enforcement is working with the new owners to clear up old violations before taking any legal action.
Single mom Jennifer George says she was looking to make life better for children when she moved to Avondale Apartments.
"I was staying in a two bedroom, it was small, it was what I could afford and I thought we would get something better," she said.
But it turned out to be one of her worst moves yet.
"I was told it could catch on fire because it's electrical and there was water dripping," she said pointing to her hot water heater.
George showed us loose wires near puddles of standing water around her water heater. She could barely stand to open the dishwasher, the stench from the stained water filling her home.
"When I opened it up recently there were maggots in there and black mold all around the dishwasher in there," she said.
George showed e-mails where she'd asked management for help back in January. A file at the city attorney's office shows the problems at Avondale go back to 2009.
New owners took over in May but the same problems persist.
"I'm concerned about the health hazards as far as my kids," said
So is the city of Little Rock. Wednesday code enforcement issued two 24 hour notices for management to repair exposed wires.
The new management now taking responsibilities for problems they didn't create.
"I can't apologize enough for the previous management's company's misdeeds and misjudgments," said Assistant Manager Trinikka Jackson.
Jackson says the new managers are ready to pour $2.2 million into renovations, hoping to turn the complex around.
"I hate it, there were a lot of awful things happening here, we have a full plate in here, we care."
But some tenants, including George are so fed up, they simply want out.
"It makes me feel bad, it dampens my spirit that we have to live like this," said George.
Jackson said some tenants are so fed up they've stopped paying rent altogether, but now they have a balance they have to pay off before they can be moved to a new apartment.
The city will be back Thursday to make sure safety violations in George's apartment are fixed. Code enforcement is working with the new owners to clear up old violations before taking any legal action.
