JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Emotions ran high at Eureka Gardens Tuesday afternoon as property managers met with residents of the troubled apartment complex.

The Rev. Richard Hamlet of Global Ministries Foundation, which owns the complex, was expected to meet in person with residents and tour some of the worst units, but property managers said Hamlet was wrapped up in meetings with another church group.

One of the residents managers met with was Dwan Wilson, whose apartment brought a city councilwoman to tears earlier this month during a city code inspection sweep.

Wilson said Tuesday that wants to move out of Eureka Gardens immediately.

"I want you ladies to know that I've never had asthma or allergies until I moved into this property," Wilson told the property managers.

She said she and her 9-year-old son have been hospitalized numerous times because of the living conditions inside her apartment. Wilson said her daughter also developed breathing problems recently.

"I love my children. This is unacceptable and this is crazy, and y'all tell Mr. Hamlet if he didn't know what he was buying into, he knows it now. This is unacceptable," Wilson said.

Wilson said Hamlet shouldn't try to repair the issues but instead condemn the complex.

"He makes more than enough money to tear this place down," Wilson said. "This is crazy, and my children, my child is sick. ... Show me how sorry you are."

Property managers sympathetic to her needs said they're working to move Wilson out.

"My plan is to go back to the office and make some phone calls, figure out how we get what she will like, which is to move her to another apartment community as soon as possible," said Terri Benskin with Ledic Realty. "So that's my plan."

Property managers said they toured several apartments Tuesday trying to address individual needs on a case-by-case basis.

City yet to see HUD report

Tenants have been dealing with mold, crumbling stairways and gas leaks at the complex for months.  It's been three weeks since city code inspectors went into the apartments and found deplorable conditions. Inspectors entered 165 units during the two-day sweep and found violations in 163 of them. Of those, three were tenant violations. The rest were the responsibility of the landlord.

After the city's sweep, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development voided the passing inspection score for Eureka Gardens and re-inspected all 400 units at the complex.

The findings from that HUD inspection address only the interior issues in the units, not the structural issues the city found. The HUD report has not been provided to the city, despite city leaders specifically requesting the report from HUD officials Monday.

The report won't be public record until 60 days after it was signed off by Hamlet.

A source in the fire marshal's office said HUD's report requires only interior fire safety repairs, like ensuring the units have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It does not address the crumbling stairwells at the complex.

A fire marshal said as of last Sunday, carbon monoxide detectors had been installed in 75 percent of the units. He expected those to be installed in every unit by Monday.

The city, which prominently noted the rusted, crumbling stairs in its list of code violations at Eureka Gardens, is allowing Hamlet to hire his own structural engineers to inspect the exteriors of the buildings and the stairs. That report has been promised to be delivered to the city by Friday.

Hamlet, who went to the complex after a meeting downtown Monday with city and federal officials, took a tour of the units and said 45 percent of the needed repairs have been completed.

City Councilman Garrett Dennis, whose district includes Eureka Gardens, said Hamlet was referring to the repairs required by HUD's inspection, not the code violation fixes the city outlined in its report to Hamlet.

A fire chief said there are two options for faulty stairs:

Owner admits responsibility

Hamlet said after emerging from the meeting Monday morning that he admits he is responsible for making improvements at the complex.

But residents, like Gail Thomas, vice president of the Tenants Association, said that Hamlet's visit did little to ease their anger.

"We need for the community to get together and fight for what's right, fight for what's yours," Thomas said. 

Tenants have been dealing with mold, crumbling stairways and gas leaks at the complex for months.  It's been three weeks since city code inspectors went into the apartments and found deplorable conditions. Inspectors entered 165 units during the two-day sweep and found violations in 163 of them. Of those, three were tenant violations. The rest were the responsibility of the landlord.

Hamlet (pictured) said he invested $3,000 into each apartment when he bought the property three years ago. He said he planned to invest more money in the units and was unaware of the unsightly living conditions until September. He apologized for the gas leaks -- which sent four people to the hospital -- the mold and the crumbling stairwells.

"I apologize. I regret it, and I'm sorry," Hamlet said. "I'm the owner, and it's on my watch, and I take responsibility for it and making the the changes and adjustments now."

Hamlet said he will be in Jacksonville through Thursday and plans to meet with Mayor Lenny Curry at 10 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall. Residents will meet Thursday with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

Hamlet's contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development expires in March 2016. He could choose to re-certify or opt out. He is guaranteed monthly rent per unit that totals $3 million a year.