MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Serenity Towers will be managed by the City of Memphis Housing Authority starting on Dec. 23, 2024, according to Carlissa Shaw, special counsel for the City of Memphis.
Shaw spoke at a press conference following a court hearing Wednesday at which the property was declared uninhabitable.
City of Memphis officials have decided to manage the property after waning efforts from Millennia Housing Management, the previous manager of Serenity Towers to repair the property, according to Marcus Ward, who has been appointed the Special Master for the Shelby County Environmental Court.
“Relocation is the number one thing, making repairs is a priority but it is not the number one priority," Ward said.
As far as how long it will take to relocate residents still living in the property, officials are trying to move at a faster rate than normal.
“We are moving for an aggressive timeline…these kinds of transitions with the US Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD) have taken up to a year," Shaw said. "With the pressing issues at Serenity Towers, it is our belief that a year is not an appropriate timeline, and so, we have asked all properties involved if it is possible to have the property completely vacated within the next four months.”
Shaw said Serenity Towers’ residents will receive notices on what will happen to the property and options for transitions.
There are currently more than 100 residents living at Serenity Towers. Two-thirds of those residents will receive benefits from HUD, allowing them to transition anywhere in the country for relocation with the assistance of a transition specialist, according to Shaw.
The remaining 40 residents at Serenity Towers who are unsubsidized by HUD will have their transitions facilitated through the Memphis Housing Authority and the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development.
Shaw noted the cost for repairs and the relocation of Serenity Towers can be covered by a lien offered through a receivership lien, which would avoid spending taxpayer dollars on the property.
“We hope for this to be a lesson that the City of Memphis holds property owners accountable, and you don’t just get the opportunity to take advantage of our most vulnerable populations,” Shaw said.