Moldy mess Couple irate at condition of townhouse at Magnolia Oaks

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Moldy mess Couple irate at condition of townhouse at Magnolia Oaks

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

By CHERIE WARD The Mississippi Press,Pascagoula,MS,

http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/index.ssf?/base/news/11

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GAUTIER -- After living with a moldy mess underneath the sink for

nearly a year, and Dawn decided to take action.

The couple began renting a townhouse at Magnolia Oaks in April 2006.

said he and his wife were grateful for a place to live

considering the housing shortage following Hurricane Katrina.

They moved into the townhouse understanding that repairs would be

made in a timely manner.

has an apartment inspection report dated April 1, 2006, that

says the kitchen was unsanitary from mold and rotting cabinets due

to a leak from the top floor. The report also states the

refrigerator and bathroom medicine cabinet were in bad condition

because of rusting, and the apartment was infested with roaches. The

report concludes by stating repairs would be made in 30 days for any

deficiencies noted.

A year later, said he is tired of being put off by the

apartment's management and called Gautier code enforcement officers

to examine the moldy mess growing under his kitchen sink.

On April 2, code enforcement officer Terri Hanson posted a notice on

the 's apartment that says the dwelling is " not habitable until

repairs are made. "

According to , the mold was the main issue as well as exposed

wires from the air conditioning unit. The wires have since been

capped, but as of Monday morning, the mold still grew beneath the

sink.

Apartment manager Zwick refused to comment Monday. Regional

manager Pam Wicker also declined to comment.

According to , Zwick and Wicker are sisters and the complex is

owned by the Hallmark Companies in Atlanta, Ga. Representatives from

the Hallmark Companies did not return phone calls to The Mississippi

Press on Monday.

said he and his wife decided to move from the townhouse when

their lease expired on March 31.

" I have an eight-week-old baby living in this, " said. " I'm

just a lowly pipefitter out at the shipyard. I don't live above my

means, I just want them to do what they are supposed to do. "

said he secured another apartment in Ocean Springs and tried

to move at the end of March, but Zwick told him he must give 30 days

notice, as written in the lease, prior to moving.

" She said it would cost an extra month's rent, " said. " With

the strike -- well, I hated to lose that money. "

said he paid $690 a month for the townhouse when he rented it

in April, but now the rent has increased to $825 a month.

" That's just not right to increase the rent when they aren't taking

care of the things that need to be done, " said.

For now, and his family are living with his parents. He said

Zwick gave him another apartment, but it has the same problems as

the one his family was living in.

" I'm just going to keep calling code enforcement, " said.

Reporter Cherie Ward can be reached at cward@...