JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Federal housing officials and local firefighters were back at Eureka Gardens Wednesday to re-inspect the 400-unit, government-subsidized housing complex.
The Westside apartment complex was being looked at again by the Department of Housing and Urban Development after an inspection over the summer found only minor violations, yet a sweep by city code inspectors last month found health and safety violations in 163 of the 165 apartments they entered.
Of those, three were tenant violations and the rest were deemed the responsibility of the landlord.
The management team was also at the complex trying to get all the necessary fixes done up to the government's standards to avoid being shut down.
Bertha Matthews had her apartment inspected again -- she's live in Eureka Gardens for years -- and wants things to change there.
"We wouldn't be in the state we are in now if (management) were doing things like they were supposed to," Matthews said.
Federal HUD inspectors were going door to door with the property owner's management team.
The subsidized housing complex has been under investigation after News4Jax broadcast the residents' complaints and concerns about mold, rust and plumbing problems.
"And it is just hot. These bricks are hot. We need some central air here. We need the government to reconstitute this place and build it right," resident Mona Lisa Arnold said.
HUD inspectors said they were looking for critical problems Wednesday, including gas leaks, electrical issues and carbon monoxide while working with Jacksonville firefighters to make sure residents are safe.
Inspectors originally found a laundry list of problems in desperate need of attention including:
- Propane/natural gas/methane gas detected
- Exposed wires/open panels
- Water leaks on or near electrical equipment emergency equipment/fire exits/fire escapes
- Emergency/fire exits/blocked/unusable fire escapes
- Blocked egress/ladders gas/oil hot water heater/gas/oil HVAC
- Carbon monoxide hazard
JFRD did say Wednesday that they were unable to find the same violations again but city officials are expected to return Thursday to check again.
Tracy Grant, president of the complex's tenant association, said she wants management to do more for the people who live there.
"People have legitimate complaints and they need to be addressed," Grant said. "They are not knocking on every door and saying, ‘Hey, look let me come inside and let me see what we can fix.' Even the minor stuff, regardless of whatever it is, just fix it."
Global Ministries, which owns the complex, has brought in a new management team. One of the new managers asked media Wednesday to stay away from the inspectors. She said she'd answer any questions if a note was left at her office but has yet to respond to any questions.
There also was a lot of law enforcement activity at the complex Wednesday as U.S. Marshals came to the complex to arrest a wanted man.
Officials said he climbed into the attic to hide from them but fell through the ceiling and had to be hospitalized.
Residents said the incident is an example of one of their other issues, lack of security, and why they need more security at the complex as well.