MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Street sweepers and repair crews spent Monday working on the Warren Apartments off Clementine Road.
Many residents of the low-income complex had to relocate to hotels over the weekend, after code enforcement found some units uninhabitable.
The management company running the overhaul, LEDIC, said it would bring two dozen units up to code before the week’s over.
Pierce Ledbetter with LEDIC said crews are working on extermination, dry wall and appliance repair.
Laquinta Benson said her apartment was not in good condition, but her unit was not bad enough for the complex to board it up like it did.
WREG learned Monday, some people were choosing to live in the uninhabitable apartments during the repairs.
One woman said the hotel was not enough room for her and her six children, so they stayed in their boarded-up apartment.
“My walls are dry-rotted, infested with bed bugs. They got a clothes hanger supporting my sink,” she said.
Many people in the complex complained about the short notice to vacate their units.
Ledbetter said the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) demanded Friday that those people living in the uninhabitable conditions be out by 3 p.m. Saturday.
Management said it began notifying tenants Saturday morning around 10:30 a.m.
Global Ministries Foundation said it oversees a for-profit organization, Warren LLC, which runs Warren Apartments.
LEDIC came on board in January of this year to help management improve conditions and safety.
GMF said HUD gives Warren LLC about $1.5 million per year.
GMF said a few prior management groups let work fall through the cracks leading to this problem.
GMF said it gave $1.5 million if its own money to the complex after it acquired the complex a couple years ago.