Ashland Manor no longer a nuisance property

The City of Toledo’s Code Compliance Department has given Ashland Manor apartments an “all clear” after the owners addressed issues at the complex.

The building was declared a public nuisance in February after a Jan. 31 inspection by city and federal officials.

Staff from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Detroit and Cleveland field offices, the Toledo Lucas County Health Department, and Toledo’s code enforcement department worked in teams to inspect each of the 140 government-subsidized units at the property, located at 2030 Ashland Ave. The building has a total of 188 total units.

The 25-page letter, sent to the complex’s owners, included a unit-by-unit description of the issues found during the inspection.

The property owners were tasked with repairing or replacing doors, windows, walls, flooring, and smoke detectors, as well as plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. In total, 294 items were identified as having issues that needed to be addressed. Fifty-five units were identified as having insect and rodent infestation.

Rachel Hart, a spokesman for the city, said all the issues have been resolved.

“Code Compliance has been to the property several times since orders were issued on Feb. 7 and have been collecting documentation of repairs that have been made,” Ms. Hart said in an email.

On March 21, a team of four inspectors visited the property to review and reconcile all of the documentation to see whether any violations were still outstanding, Ms. Hart said.

“The initial feedback from inspectors was positive with very few outstanding violations remaining, if any,” she said. “We’re pleased with the cooperation of the property owners in working toward resolution of the orders.”

A final inspection was held Tuesday, Ms. Hart said.

“The initial code violations are now in compliance,” Ms. Hart said. “If residents have issues in the future, we encourage them to call Engage Toledo or the Fair Housing Center.”

Ashland resident Ty’Ree Geeway said he told inspectors in February about the problems he had been having in his apartment, including roaches and rain getting in around the windows.

Mr. Geeway said he was moved from that apartment March 15 into a “market rate” apartment, he said, by accident.

“The apartment I am in now goes for $600 a month and it is real nice,” he said. “I was paying $253 prior for my HUD apartment. This new apartment I am in has new appliances, nice countertops, and white cabinets.”

Mr. Geeway said management did confirm his move to the current apartment was by mistake. They are waiting for a HUD apartment in the building to be remodeled and he will be moved again.

“I was told I would just need to pay my $253 per month until the other apartment is ready, which is nice,” he said. “So far, the management has been working hard to get things done. The elevators are working, and the trash has been kept up. The new manager seems to be a good guy and is keeping his word.”

Marquetta Rayford, a resident since June, said her apartment had some improvements, but issues remain. The young mother has had issues with electricity, water, cockroaches, and bed bugs.

Her unit was tagged in the February report as needing repairs to the ceiling in the bathroom, leaking windows, and the circuit box which, according to the report, was scheduled to be repaired.

She did finally get blinds for her windows as well as a key fob so she can enter the building. Her apartment also has new electrical outlets, but the circuit box has not been replaced.

Ms. Rayford said she was given a stove from another apartment, but the issue with the stove blowing a fuse when she uses it continues. She believes it is still an electrical issue. She was also waiting on knobs for the stove.

The water damage to the ceiling and walls in the bathroom was repaired, but there still seems to be water leaking down from the apartment above hers, she said.

“I do tell management about the issues I am still having,” Ms. Rayford said. “They keep telling me to give them some time. I know they are trying to get all of the work done.”

Her apartment was treated for bed bugs three times. She said the exterminator told her the bugs were in her couches.

“I have had four treatments for bed bugs so far,” Ms. Rayford said. “I have been told I will get another one in 12 to 14 days. I have my doubts it will work, though, since they are not treating the other apartments around me. I am afraid they will just continue to come back. They crawl through the walls.”

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz met with Marcia Fudge, HUD secretary, and Adrianne Todman, its deputy secretary, on Jan. 18.

The mayor provided HUD officials with a three-ring binder outlining the issues at Ashland Manor and nearby Covenant House, another troubled complex that receives HUD funding.

Mr. Kapszukiewicz said he was encouraged by the progress the owners of Ashland Manor have made since February.

“They have made tremendous progress in the last six weeks,” the mayor said. “They went from 294 issues to none. I am encouraged to know that the residents are now living in a safer and cleaner environment.”

The mayor said the city still has work to do to ensure issues like those found at Ashland do not show up at other low-income properties.

“We have to continue to keep an eye on the HUD properties to make sure this does not happen again,” he said. “There is no question that our process has worked. We will continue to keep an eye on the properties.”