Resident of city‑owned Studios at 2800 Brentwood details safety and habitability complaints

A resident of the city‑owned Studios at 2800 Brentwood, which is managed by CASA, told the Raleigh City Council during public comment that building maintenance and safety problems have persisted for months and that residents — many on fixed incomes — deserve alternative accommodations or abatements.

The speaker said they accepted a city‑offered transition stay at the property but encountered persistent problems including a broken elevator for about 10 months, leaking air conditioning creating standing water, roach and bedbug infestations, and inadequate security staff who left after a week. The resident said the conditions contributed to a fall on the stairs that resulted in a concussion and multiple injuries.

"Since I've been there, the elevator has been down for the past 10 months, and other repairs neglect to be made. There are massive water puddles that stand on a slippery cement surface from ACs leaking. There's a roach infestation and bed bugs in most every room," the speaker said during public comment. They described a resident population of elderly people, disabled veterans and people with behavioral challenges and said abatement or timely alternative housing had not been offered.

When asked by council staff to repeat the building's name, the speaker identified it as "the studios at 2800 Brentwood," and the speaker said management is by CASA. The resident asked the council to require abatement or provide alternate housing and stressed that many residents pay four‑fifths of fixed incomes to remain in the building.

Councilors did not take action during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript. The complaint places housing conditions and the management relationship with CASA on the council's public record and calls for a staff response to the resident's requests for abatement or accommodations.