JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville city code enforcement and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) officials showed up in force at a Westside apartment complex Thursday morning, launching a multi-agency inspection into allegations of unpermitted subdividing of units.
At least six city vehicles and a couple of JFRD units were in the parking lot, as officials fanned out across the Volare Apartments on Ricker Road.
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A statement from the city’s communications team confirmed the purpose of the visit.
“Building code, municipal code and JFRD conducted a multi-agency inspection at this complex today to investigate the unpermitted subdividing of units at the site. We should have more updates soon,” the statement read.
A JFRD spokesperson explained the department’s involvement, saying, “Our Prevention Division was following up on a complaint,” a spokesperson said.
Residents didn’t hold back when discussing conditions at the complex. One resident said he is living in a former three-bedroom unit that had been split into separate units.
“They’ve got a three-bedroom. There were three bedrooms and they split them and one side’s paying the other person’s electric bill without them knowing it,” resident Sam Young said. “He’s been paying my light bill for a year.”
Another resident also noted ongoing management instability at the property.
“They have had six managers in the last year,” he said.
A visit to the leasing office resulted in a phone number being passed along to another leasing office member, but no immediate response was received.
News4JAX reached out to the registered agent on the LLC linked to the deed. We were forwarded to a voicemail, and no return call had been received at the time of publication.
A separate call to the owner of the LLC drew a “no comment” response.
News4JAX is continuing to work to learn more about the permits and what the city found.
News4JAX is still trying to determine what the next steps are and if the complex will face any consequences or need to make changes.
No one has left the apartments, and no residents have been asked to leave, to our knowledge.