MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After ABC24 did another story on blight and neglect at a South Memphis apartment complex, City of Memphis Code Enforcement visited the property.
Then the station received another update.
“Some tenants say they were told (by Code Enforcement) they have 15 days to vacate,” said Kermit Moore, area community organizer and Memphis NAACP President.
Signs found on one of the apartment buildings where one of the remaining tenants lives designated the building as “Unfit for Human Habitation” and “Must Not Be Occupied.”
“As soon as the story aired last week, the next day, Code came out and put notices on all of the doors,” said Moore. “Many of them have been taken down now.”
However, Code Enforcement said these signs are not orders to vacate and that telling people they have 15 days to leave is something they do not do.
A City of Memphis spokesperson said the property is being written up for rehab and a request to board all vacant units open to casual entry will be submitted to the owner.
Code enforcement said an inspector spoke to the property manager on the phone and she said she would start the board up process immediately.
ABC24 tried to call the landlord, and they did not answer.
Tenants still refused to speak on camera and said they continue to fear retaliation from their landlord if they talk to the media.
“The city and county must get down on these absentee landlords - that buy property in Memphis - who are out of town (and) don't take care of the properties,” Moore said.
Code Enforcement said they will be back to visit the property Thursday or Friday to make sure all vacant buildings have been boarded up.
If they are not, the property owners will be cited to environmental court.
Property owner Memphis Partners NY LLC (in Brooklyn, New York) does not have public contact information listed.