Tenants union urges city to fund urgent repairs at former Vision and Beyond properties

Representatives of the Cincinnati Tenants Union asked City Council on Sept. 10 to follow through on prior commitments and allocate funds for health-and-safety repairs at multiple former Vision and Beyond apartment buildings now managed by receivers or third-party managers.

Brian Christiansen, speaking as a tenant and representative of the Cincinnati Tenants Union, said Recor — the receiver for several former Vision and Beyond buildings — has provided quotes for expensive repairs, has negotiated new leases for 24 buildings and has begun repairs using a line of credit from investors, but that that financing will “run out in about a month.” Christiansen said Recor has been cooperative and transparent, while another manager, Prodigy, has been unwilling to negotiate and has not remedied outstanding code violations found during July and August inspections.

Marcy Frasier, a tenant at 947 Grand Avenue and a union member, reminded council that the city and mayor previously approved $400,000 to address living conditions at Kirby Avenue and urged additional funding for other former Vision and Beyond buildings, including her building at 947 Grand. She said inspections completed at four buildings show clear issues and costs. Latoya Goss, also a tenant at 947 Grand, described severe building defects and said elderly and children live in affected properties, urging council to review inspection reports and release funds.

Why it matters: Speakers said thousands of households face substandard housing and that timely repairs are needed to prevent emergencies. They requested city financial support to make repairs at properties where private managers have not corrected violations.

Discussion and context: Christiansen said Recor has negotiated new leases — a first, he said — and has been a “good faith actor,” but the repairs are large and investor funds are temporary. He contrasted Recor with Prodigy, which “has done very little to improve tenants’ living conditions” since July–August inspections, with problems including broken appliances, black mold and rain-related flooding.

Council action: At the Sept. 10 meeting tenants distributed a report from Recor’s team and formally requested funding; no council vote or appropriation specific to these buildings was recorded in the transcript. City staff or council did not announce a commitment to a funding source during the meeting, though tenants indicated they are available to meet with the administration for follow-up.

Ending: Tenants asked the city to act before emergency failures occur and to use city resources to complete health-and-safety repairs where managers have not. They urged the mayor and council to review the provided reports and allocate funds to prevent further harm.