Manager says apartment poses health hazard to tenants

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Manager says apartment poses health hazard to tenants

Last Update: 2/03 2:17 pm

FOX 16 Little Rock Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:42 PM PST

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Manager-says-apartment-poses-

health-hazard-to/lZcd7DSOWkWKfNZ0FuERMQ.cspx?rss=315

A Little Rock apartment community is under fire from those who live

there and even the property manager. Complaints of mold and unsafe

living conditions are ringing out. The Summit House apartment

complex in Little Rock is not like your typical apartment community,

it's a high rise building, built in 1964. People FOX16 spoke with

say those two factors are causing problems that are making them sick.

" It's dangerous for people to have to live in this kind of

environment, " says a concerned tenant, who did not want to be

identified. She had to move from one unity to another.

" Every time water came in, the water leaked in. It was causing the

paint to start to bulge. And you could actually see raindrops or

water running down the wall, " she explains.

Now her new unit is showing similar signs. " It's starting to swell

and it's pushing out on the paint and it will bust. "

She's not the only one concerned.

" This is just years and years of water damage coming through the air

shaft. Their solution to fixing it is just to paint over it, "

explains Pratt, manager.

Pratt is the community manager at Summit House. He says a

number of residents continually complain about mold and a mildew

smell.

" Traveled a lot, came home, and his apartment was covered with mold.

Their solution was to clean the carpet, paint the walls, and let him

be, " says Pratt.

Pratt says the company is evicting him, citing rent problems. He

says it's because he's speaking up. " That's the impression I get. If

you would just be a good boy and hush up everything would go your

way, " says Pratt. " The people here are afraid to say anything. "

As FOX16 was leaving, a senior level official with the company based

in Minnesota approached us.

" You have no reason to be here, " says French, chief operating

officer.

We questioned him about these safety concerns but he said there

weren't any. " Everything's taken care of, we are good to go. We run

a very clean smooth operating building. "

In an inspection last October, Pratt says a water remediation

company recommended every unit in the complex be serviced to get rid

of any health concerns. Pratt says as far as he knows, it hasn't

happened yet. He's managed the property for four years.

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