Mayor: Out-of-state ‘slumlords’ at fault for condemned Aurora apartments
DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora’s mayor assured the ousted tenants of a condemned apartment complex that the city will ensure no one is left on the streets, blaming the building’s “slumlords” for putting them in the situation.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman spoke with FOX31 about the situation on Friday, a day after residents held a rally pleading for more time to find new places to live. Coffman said the city is working with nonprofits to relocate them and providing funds for temporary housing.
“We will provide an adequate safety net so nobody has to worry about being unhoused,” Coffman said.
‘We have out-of-state owners that are slumlords’
FOX31 obtained video and photographs from the city of Aurora that reveal filth and disrepair inside several areas of the building at 1568 Nome St.
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The property is run by CBZ Management, which has tried to pin the problems on crime and claims Venezuelan gang activity is to blame — but the mayor said that argument is specious.
“It’s a little late to play the Venezuelan gang card. Certainly, there are other parts of the city that we’re looking at, that we’re concerned about that. But the problems in this building certainly precede any problems with Venezuelan gangs,” Coffman said.
“The problems even preceded the migrant crisis,” Coffman said.
He said he visited the property last year to look at the habitability concerns, with reports of things like piled-up trash, rat infestations and lingering damage from a fire that was never restored.
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Coffman said the city was prepared to take the owners to court, but conditions have deteriorated to the point where the building is no longer habitable. While tenants have been pleading for more time, the city has said it would be irresponsible of them to allow people to keep living there.
“We have out-of-state owners that are slumlords,” Coffman said.
The city has gone door to door to identify tenants and try to help them with the next steps. They found a large number of residents did not have leases, but Coffman said the city is “prepared to help them whether they have a lease or not.”
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