DALLAS — First, storms caused damage to the Meadows at Ferguson in east Dallas..Then, there was a fire.
The apartment complex has been hit with one disaster after another; however, residents said recent events only uncovered issues that were already there.
“Every day, they’re breaking into the vacant apartments. They pull the boards off. We have no security,” said Eunice Glover.
Trash and old furniture are seen lying on the ground throughout the complex.
“We don’t have any hot water. When I opened the electrical panel, water came out of the wall. It shorted out the electric water heater,” said Theophilus Field who helps take care of a resident living there. “You’re being treated like an animal, but you’re doing everything a human is supposed to do productively.”
Just days after residents marched to the leasing office in June, the City of Dallas filed a petition with the District Court for a temporary and permanent injunction. The city wants the property owners, KCAP Meadows at Ferguson, LLC, to bring the buildings up to code. They also want the court to appoint a receiver to manage the property.
“It’s making me want to cry because we shouldn’t have to live like this and pay our rent,” said Glover.
In the petition, the city said Dallas Police responded to 40 criminal incidents there since May 31, 2022. They also site more than 50 city code violations and more than 20 fire violations.
“Where does it end? With a life,” asked Field.
In the document, the city requested the owners pay a fee per violation each day until problems are fixed.
Key City Capital manages the property. They did not go on camera, but they told WFAA they purchased the property over a year ago. The management team said the property already had problems. They claim they respond to issues within 48 hours and have a five-year capital project plan that would improve the complex’s condition.
Still, residents wonder if that is enough.
“They are addressing the issue with the city, but I don’t think the city is putting enough pressure on these properties to get it right, so we’re stuck,” said Glover.
They find themselves stuck between what is wrong and efforts to make it right.