MEMPHIS, Tenn. — City of Memphis Code Enforcement released its initial findings Tuesday after inspecting the much-maligned Serenity Towers apartment complex on Highland Street in Memphis Monday.
Among the findings, Code Enforcement said the building was, "Overall in very poor condition."
In their report, Code Enforcement said the building was extremely hot and poses a health hazard to the residents.
"We observed ceiling tiles damaged in the lobby area due to leaks," Code Enforcement said in their report. "We tested the water in Ladies Bathroom, which only got up to water lukewarm [temperatures]. There is an unsanitary mildew-like smell in the lobby area."
In the west wing of the building, Code Enforcement found:
- 36 of 63 occupied units had no hot water.
- 38 of 63 occupied units had no working A/C unit.
- 13 of 63 occupied units had no working stove.
- 13 of 63 occupied units had bed bugs.
- 10 of 63 occupied units had mold.
The same story in the larger east wing, where Code Enforcement found:
- 59 of 238 occupied units had no hot water.
- 49 of 238 occupied units had no heat.
- Only 78 of 238 occupied units had working A/C units.
- 42 units had no working smoke detector.
- 90 units had no working stove.
- 78 units have mold.
- 75 units have bed bugs.
There have been ongoing issues at the Memphis apartment complex.
Residents are upset about deplorable living conditions, from mold to rodents, and even lack of air conditioning. There was also a recent death, but, apartment officials said the death was not related to the issues.
At the end of May, managers of the complex were given a $1,000 fine in environmental court and placed on a deadline to make progress on the repairs or receive daily penalties.
The City of Memphis said the matter of condemning the building or vacating residents will be up to a Shelby County environmental court judge. City officials and Serenity Towers representatives were in environmental court Tuesday, and the hearing was rescheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.
