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8 Austin Apartments Complexes On High Alert For Violations


Austin Code Inspectors released a list of eight buildings with cracked foundations putting tenants at risk.

The Wickersham Apartment complex in southeast Austin is the most recent to come under fire.

Codes inspectors issued a notice of violation this week for bricks falling off one building.

Tenants say there are many other issues -- from balconies nearly collapsing to cracks on the side of the buildings.

"I'm at the point where I don't know what to do. Should I stay and finish off my lease?" said resident Veronica McMullin.

McMullin has been living at the complex for almost a year. She's concerned for the safety of her kids and grandkids.

"They just fixed the top stairs they were cracking and falling down. And you can see the roof is mold and falling apart," McMullin claims.

She says the management has not been responsive.

"I work hard to pay my rent and we don't get any respect at all. Blinds broken in the house, (and) they won't repair them," she said.

Several other tenants came to us worried about their units.

"It started raining and my roof kind of caved in. My whole bed was soaking wet from the rain and it took them two weeks to come out and fix it," said resident Dyeisha Eason.

Ron Potts with the Codes Department says they do not know about the issues until they get complains.

Right now they have eight complexes on the top of their list to get owners to comply. The apartments include, Coppertree, Canyon Oaks, Wickersham, Woodridge, Park View at Town Lake, Mission St. James, Las Palmas and Tramor at Victory Place.

Potts tells us the issues range from "imminently dangerous to walkways collapsing, to bed bugs or plumbing issues."

Wickersham property manager Veronica Martinez says they have an engineer and contractor hired to address the problems.

However, McMullin says this should have happened sooner.

"It's so bad, I don't let my grandson play outside. It's sad. We're just so scared of anything falling apart," she said.

The Codes Department says they are in the process of hiring four officers dedicated to multi-family properties. The officers will be in charge of making sure all violations are fixed in a timely manner.

By Christie Post