JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The embattled owner of the troubled Eureka Gardens and Washington Heights housing complexes could be facing lawsuits as the tenants continue to struggle with deplorable living conditions.
Seven months ago, the I-TEAM exposed the squalid conditions at the federally subsidized complexes, which are home to 600 families, many with young children.
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The Global Ministries Foundation owns the two apartment complexes, and four others in Jacksonville.
Federal and city leaders have said the health and safety of tenants at the complexes is at stake after reports of everything from mold and mildew concerns to gas and carbon monoxide leaks, exposed wires and faulty stairs.
Lawyers with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid said they're building a case against the complex owner, the Rev. Richard Hamlet and GMF.
“We think it's unacceptable that they weren't repairing these problems after they purchased the property, before the media got involved, before Councilman (Garrett Dennis) got involved, before the mayor came,” JALA attorney Katherine Hanson said. “So now they're making repairs, but we think it's too slow. We think that the tenants at Eureka Gardens deserve more. They've been living in substandard conditions for years. The property's dilapidated. They need to move faster.”
Hanson has been working with tenants at Eureka Gardens for six months. Now her office is setting its sights on Washington Heights, which had a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development even lower than the one for Eureka Gardens.
Washington Heights scored a 60.01 and Eureka Gardens scored a 62c. A passing score is 60.
“It's concerning that GMF has not started to do this kind of significant work at Washington Heights, where it's clearly needed,” Hanson said. “I assume because there's not as much attention being paid, but we hope to change that.”
At Washington Heights, the I-TEAM found water pouring from a family's bathroom ceiling, mold in a shower, more water coming through a light fixture in a mother's bedroom, a leaking AC unit outside and bent metal at the front door with rusted nails.
Tripping hazards were also riddled throughout the HUD inspection report for Washington Heights.
“Legal Aid is looking at all options that we can to improve the quality of life for the tenants at Eureka Gardens. If that means lawsuits, we may do that,” Hanson said. “Our interest is not in who owns the property, although we think that an entity with more motivation, more interest in fixing these problems would certainly be better. Our interest is in whether or not the situation on the ground changes, and if a new owner causes that to happen, then that's great, but that's not guaranteed.”