Ypsilanti Township apartment complex continues falling to disrepair as officials search for its owner
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: This article has been revised because of the lack of clarity about the ownership of the property.
Who owns the River's Edge apartment complex in Ypsilanti Township?
No one is certain at this point, and, in the meantime, township officials say the property and its buildings are falling into disrepair, prompting officials to search for the owners and prepare to take legal action.
Managers at the 162-unit River's Edge, located on Villa Drive, did not take or return calls from AnnArbor.com, and an investment company to which township officials have mailed a notice of violation said they have never heard of the property.
“It’s a bad one,” Township Building Director Ron Fulton said of the complex's physical situation.
Among other complaints in a notice of violation dated July 25 are:
- Deteriorating and leaking roofs.
- Leaking windows.
- Missing siding.
- Missing trim.
- Deteriorating porches that are separating from the buildings.
- Sinking footings.
- Overflowing Dumpsters.
Landlords have refused to address issues at the River's Edge.
Tom Perkins | For Ann Arbor.com
Fulton said officials contacted the complex’s management in May and was informed that the owner was in the process of refinancing his loan. When presented with the extensive list of issues in the notice of violation, the owner promptly sold the complex, Fulton said.
Township records indicate a company called Next Door Apartments is the property's managing agent, but officials believe the property was sold to an investment group. An updated notice of violation was sent to the company, but a secretary there told AnnArbor.com no one in the office was aware of the property.
In the meantime, Township Attorney Doug Winters is awaiting the results of a title search that should reveal who owns the property.
The complex has high occupancy rate, but Fulton said the township receives complaints from residents about leaking roofs and windows. He said staff will ask for approval to take legal action at the next regular board meeting.
“We have struck out in our attempts at compliance and we have no choice but to come before the board (for approval to take legal action),” Fulton said.
River's Edge is one of several problematic apartment complexes in the area. Neighboring Eastern Highland's ownership situation between jailed landlord David Kircher and Barnes and Barnes is in legal limbo. That has left several large buildings neighboring River's Edge vacant, though Fulton said they are secure and safe.
Across the street, Huron View Apartments, which is in the City of Ypsilanti, was hit with a rash of burglaries last year and management had refused requests by tenants for extra locks for protection.
Comments
YpsiLivin
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 2:04 a.m.
"...When presented with the extensive list of issues in the notice of violation, the owner promptly sold the complex, Fulton said..." Tell me, who "promptly" sells real estate in this market? No property sale has been recorded in either the county or township records - and we're talking about a sale that allegedly occurred last summer. The county property records sometimes run behind, but the township's records are usually up-to-date. When was the property sold? How much was the property sold for? Who paid the transfer tax to the state? My guess is that the property has been transferred (perhaps more than once) through a confusing string of LLCs that -once unraveled - would lead right back to the owner who "sold" the property last year. The management company - acting strictly as an agent, SHOULD know who it's working for. The previous owner should know who he sold the property to and should be able to provide legitimate documentation of the sale, if indeed the property has been sold. It shouldn't be hard to answer the question of who owns the property. Since it has suddenly become very hard to answer that question, I'd guess that the owner of record as of last summer is still somehow involved with this property.
obviouscomment
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
All these residents that are complaining should get together and start paying rent to an escrow account. The owner would surface and since the Township is already pissed about the situation they would have the tenants' backs and the owner would have to respond. Not sure how they would respond, but it would put the ball in their court.
alterego
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 8:13 p.m.
Escrow account.
kevin
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
stop being filty ......you rent the apartment....keep it clean...and the owners might care...if not ..move
Monica R-W
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 7:15 a.m.
So Kevin, can they drop off the trash, normally taken to the overflowing dumpsters, at your house?
Berda Green
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
wow
Betty
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
Bet if the residence stopped paying rent an "owner" would surface.
obviouscomment
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
Exactly. All these residents that are complaining should get together and start paying rent to an escrow account. The owner would surface and since the Township is already pissed about the situation they would have the tenants' backs and the owner would have to respond. Not sure how they would respond, but it would put the ball in their court.
stevek
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
A lot of this has to do with the management, BUT-- Why is it that subsidized housing tends to fall into disrepair much faster than non-subsidized apartments? how about not trashing the place you call home, treating it like you own it, and picking up a piece of garbage or two. Have a little pride in yourself. Not everything needs to be blamed on someone else.
djacks24
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Imagine what our government subsidized nation will be like in the Obama utopia.
jns131
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 3:48 p.m.
Ypsi always finds their man or woman and knocks the buildings down. It won't be long before this property is nothing but grassy fields. They did get rid of that gas station out by Rawsonville. Wow. Nice big empty lot and grassy too.
dading dont delete me bro
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
cant find the owners? where does the rent check go? where?
Michigan Reader
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 6:49 p.m.
Banks don't reveal the owners of an account. If someone has a garnishment order from a court, they can garnish the account, but I don't think that's the aim of the township. They're thinking of the residents living there.
jns131
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
a bank. You make it out to whomever but whomever owns the account could be someone else incognito.
Mr. Ed
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Poor people who can't work deserve a better place to live. If I'm going to subsidize someone's rent I want more for my money.
pseudo
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
and...by the mid 80s when students largely lived in Eastern Highlands and the complex across LeForge,...this complex was officially on the DO-NOT-GO map for EMU Students. Populated by drug dealers. Gunshots and terrible living conditions were in full swing and the township largely ignored it. I am glad to see them moving to have the place emptied or cleaned up. I would prefer emptied, then cleaned up/repaired and a change in ownership so an organization that is actively responsible and responsive to the community.
tom swift jr.
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
Back in the mid-70's, fresh out of the Army, we moved in to what was then LaForge Villa with our two kids. It was subsidized housing, we could afford it while I finished school. Initially it was a great place, a lot of young families, many students. Three years later we heard the first midnight gunshot and moved out... and the place has been going down hill for the past 30 some years.
Rod Johnson
Tue, Jan 31, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
Non sequitur. You say "That [the area going downhill] is because that area is Ypsilanti" and it wouldn't happen in the Township because you "do not mess around." Only it is in the Township. So what's the explanation for the area going downhill? You *do* mess around? Could it be that Ypsilanti Township is not the crime-free Mecca you think it is?
jns131
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
Neighborhood Watch. Need to get them involved and then get the deputies involved. That is our explanation. We have one and even though it may take a bit to get em out there? They will respond to gun fire. Anderson is always teaming with em.
Rod Johnson
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
@jns131: East of LeForge, right? That's in the township, not the city. What's your explanation now?
jns131
Sun, Jan 29, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
That is because that area is Ypsilanti. Ypsi Township has the sheriff. In our township we do not mess around. Ypsi has always been lax on enforcement.