Committee hears report on Promenade apartments: occupancy permit error, orders to vacate and court actions underway

Council members pressed housing staff on April 14 about substandard conditions and the enforcement response at the Promenade apartment complex on Noble Road after a council member's site visit.

Councilwoman Larson described worsening conditions and raised tenant-safety concerns: "I was in there two years ago, and they were bad. And now it's even worse," she said. Larson detailed unsecured doors, damaged stair tiles, broken garage doors, poor lighting and evidence of fire damage in at least one unit.

Assistant Director of Housing Alan Butler told the committee the city can revoke an occupancy permit that was issued in error. "We can revoke that, because it was an error not issued correctly," he said. Butler said the housing department has posted the building with an order to vacate (the posting occurred in February, according to staff) and has multiple court actions open. "I want to say there's 5 or 6 pending court cases. I believe there's a warrant for the owner, to appear, for failure to appear," Butler told the committee.

Butler and staff described practical enforcement and tenant-protection challenges. The department has been unable to gain easy interior access in a partly occupied multi-building complex, and nuisance-abatement work is typically limited to exterior repairs (trash removal, grass cutting, board-ups). Staff said a point-of-sale transaction fell through for the property and that continued owner inaction has limited progress.

Committee members asked about immediate tenant impacts and assistance. Butler said staff do not yet have a full occupant list; he reported some resident contacts after the posting and said the city avoids penalizing occupants who remain in placarded properties. Staff identified community partners that can provide relocation or legal assistance, including CHN and Legal Aid, and said they will attempt to connect tenants with relocation resources.

Council members discussed enforcement tool options, including expanding civil penalties for code violations. Butler said the city already uses small administrative fines for narrow items (for example, $50 to $100 for trash on the tree lawn) but that expanding civil penalties raises questions about consistent application. Council President Kuda asked the law director to research fines and enforcement structures; Butler said Director Zanf will prepare preliminary research and that the subject may return to the committee in May.

Ending: The committee requested an inventory of current occupants, follow-up on the pending court dates and further staff proposals on enforcement tools and relocation assistance. Butler said staff will continue outreach to CHN and Legal Aid and will report back to the committee.