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Riverside residents, tenants press council over trash, missing dumpsters and living conditions at multifamily property
Summary
Riverside Civic Association and multiple tenants raised concerns about a specific Fat Properties multifamily complex where the dumpster had been missing for months, trash accumulated on public esplanades and tenants reported infestations and unsafe conditions.
Residents of the Riverside Civic Association and several tenants told Houston’s City Council on April 6 of ongoing problems at a multifamily property they identified as owned by Fat Properties at 2412 Southmore. The public comments combined neighborhood complaints about missing dumpsters and illegal dumping with tenant testimony about substandard living conditions.
Sharon Evans Brooks of the Riverside Civic Association said the complex lacked an on-site dumpster for months and that trash was being discarded on the public esplanade, spilling into the right of way. She urged consistent enforcement and daily citations if necessary. Councilmember Edward Pollard and others said multifamily properties are required to provide on-site dumpsters and that citations can be issued repeatedly; staff said fines may be applied daily and that follow-through to court may be needed to enforce compliance.
Tenants separately described unsanitary conditions, including roach infestations, a nonworking laundry room, damage from frequent power outages and other repair backlogs. A tenant, Stacy Peterson, said she had been forced to leave her apartment and had submitted multiple work orders for extermination and other repairs that had not been completed.
Councilmembers and staff asked district offices and Neighborhoods department staff to coordinate inspections, reissue citations if needed, and work with Solid Waste and code enforcement to restore dumpsters and address safety concerns. The council did not vote on enforcement actions during the meeting; staff said they would follow up with the district office and the Department of Neighborhoods.
