Eureka Gardens owner committed to fixing issues despite pending sale

Potential Global Ministries Foundation buyer is Ohio-based Millennia Companies

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The president of Global Ministries Foundation, which owns several federally subsidized housing complexes properties, including Eureka Gardens, left a meeting with Jacksonville leaders Wednesday with a sense of optimism, saying they are all committed to fixing the deplorable living conditions and other problems the Westside apartment complex even while the sale of the property is pending. 

The meeting was closed to the media, but Rev. Richard Hamlet, president of GMF, told the News4Jax afterward that they are all dedicated to fixing the issues at Eureka Gardens and are one step close to finding a new owner. 

"We are sticking with it. We have a responsibility, as long as we get taxpayer money going to operations," Hamlet said. "We'll do whatever we have to do."

GMF put Eureka Gardens, along with five others in Jacksonville and several others in other states up for sale in May. It is believed that The Millennia Companies would take the entire GMF portfolio, including Eureka Gardens, Washington Heights, Springfield Residential One, Southside Apartments, Market Street Apartments and Moncrief Village, all in Jacksonville.

Hamlet said he did the best he could as the owner of Eureka Gardens and Washington Heights in Northwest Jacksonville, which have been the center of a nearly year-long I-TEAM investigation into deplorable living conditions at the complexes. 

"I can hold my head up because I know we did the best we could. We spent money, but the property needed to be modernized and after we rented for two or three years, it appeared we needed to accelerate the renovation process. And we got into this situation, it's just best now for somebody else HUD approves to take it from here," Hamlet said. 

However, Hamlet also admitted that mistakes were made.

"I apologize if we didn't meet the expectations that they feel like they deserved. I wish we could have done more. The clock has run out on us," Hamlet said. 

Wednesday's meeting was called by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but no federal officials attended. Instead, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said they used the time to make sure Hamlet is keeping his word to repair the properties. 

Initially, it was expected a new owner could purchase the property by the end of the month. But the Curry said it will take more time and city officials are currently in talks with the Millennia Companies about the pending purchase. 

"The properties have to be evaluated. Obviously, there are financial evaluations that need to be done and that could take anywhere from weeks to months, which is actually pretty quick in a business transaction," Curry said. 

The deal will be finalized through HUD and Millennia Companies, but Curry and City Councilman Garrett Dennis said they will both be keeping a watchful eye on the process. 

"One of the things that we pressed Rev. Hamlet on is that this is a human issue. We still have residents living there and he gave us his commitment and I think he knows by now the leadership in Jacksonville is going to hold his feet to the fire," Dennis said. 

The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Housing Transportation and Community Development will hold a special hearing Thursday on HUD's inspection process.

Hamlet said Wednesday that he's not worried about the hearing. 


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