DECATUR, Ga. — Shuntaye Cooley and her neighbors at The Villas at Decatur in DeKalb County have been grappling with a string of ongoing issues, and despite previous attempts to address the problems, they claim conditions have only worsened over time.
County officials said they're working to improve conditions through a task force - but neighbors said change is slow as maintenance issues persist.
Cooley, a resident of The Villas at Decatur, shared her frustration, stating that she has been dealing with numerous problems, including rodent infestations and malfunctioning appliances.
"More rodents. More rats," Cooley expressed her distress. She also disclosed the personal toll it has taken on her, leading to health concerns for both her and her newborn.
"I ended up having my baby two months early. He was premature and it just pushes my postpartum weight up to 30, and it's just a lot," she said.
The issues at The Villas at Decatur came to light earlier this year when residents reported problems with damaged mailboxes that prevented them from receiving their mail. Since then, Cooley asserted that the situation has escalated with additional troubles, such as non-functioning stoves, refrigerators, and lights. She also mentioned a persistent water leak in one of the bathrooms. Despite seeking other options, she claimed that the property owners have been unresponsive to her pleas for necessary repairs.
"The property owners refuse to fix anything and I really would like to stay within DeKalb County," Cooley said.
One of the challenges faced in dealing with properties like The Villas at Decatur is absentee ownership, as pointed out by Aaron J Kimball, representing the DeKalb County Multi-Family Taskforce. He revealed that several properties suffer from similar issues due to the absence of local owners. However, steps are being taken to address this problem.
"We are in the process of creating a rental registry. This is in the works where owners have to register their properties within DeKalb County," Kimball said.
Meanwhile, Kimball's task force, in collaboration with code compliance, the health department, and fire officials, is looking at new ways to closely monitor problematic apartment complexes and take appropriate legal action when required.
"There will be a point that before the court date if the officers tell me that they are not in compliance, we may visit issuing a cease and desist order," Kimball stated, emphasizing the task force's commitment to ensuring residents' safety and well-being.
Despite earlier attempts to address the situation, Kimball revealed that the owners of The Villas at Decatur have not submitted an improvement plan within the given 90-day period. As a result, the task force is now moving forward with the possibility of revoking the property's business license to hold the owners accountable for the persistent issues.
Residents like Cooley continue to hope for better living conditions and a responsive management team, but the situation remains uncertain until decisive actions are taken to rectify the problems at The Villas at Decatur.