Residents tell committee Admiral Oaks conditions are ‘appalling’; committee votes to summon property owner

Residents of Admiral Oaks told the Housing and Human Welfare Committee on Feb. 12 that long-running problems at the Admiral Oaks apartment complex — water intrusion, mold, sewer backups, repeated turnover of on-site staff and unresponsive management — have damaged homes and harmed residents’ health.

Rhonda Pindell Charles (Annapolis City Council, Ward 3) urged the committee to compel the property owner and manager to meet with council and staff. "I hope that they hear me because this is appalling," Pindell Charles said, recounting inspections that found multiple violations and the repeated absence of responsive on-site management.

Residents described widespread problems. Taria Davis said her unit had been condemned after inspectors found excessive mold and that mold recurred months later after repairs. "They pulled up the duct floor, the subfloor up and found that for 18 years of me living there, there was no ventilation in the bathroom," Davis said. Toni Strong Pratt, who has advocated for residents, warned that some residents fear retaliation when they report problems: "They are retaliated against and they do it in a way that if you have a lease violation, I'll tack it to the lease violation so it won't look as if I'm retaliating on you." Keanu Smith Brown, a former resident, said, "Accountability must come from that." Resident Carolyn Jones told the committee the property had received tax-credit funding and said outside-site drainage and structural issues are contributing to interior problems.

Housing authority and city staff described their roles and limits. Melissa Maddox Evans (housing authority executive director) said the housing authority administers tenant-based housing vouchers and inspects voucher-assisted units; she estimated fewer than 50 voucher holders live at the property and that inspectors conduct annual unit inspections and additional visits when complaints are filed. Director Jakubiak (Planning & Zoning) said annual inspections can uncover issues and that, where inspectors find signs of systemic or structural problems, staff can conduct deeper investigations. Staff noted inspections were scheduled for Feb. 18 and 19.

Committee members and staff discussed enforcement tools. The committee reviewed portions of city code cited by staff: Title 17 (rental unit license and inspection regime) and Title 18 (landlord-tenant relations). Members also referenced the city charter provision allowing committees to summon witnesses. The committee agreed it needed guidance from the Office of Law on the scope of subpoena power and next steps for enforcement; staff said they will consult the Office of Law and report back.

The committee then voted to summon Enterprise (the property owner/manager identified in committee materials) to the committee’s next scheduled meeting, to appear as permitted by the law office's guidance. The voice vote passed with no recorded opposition.

Next steps: staff will meet with the Office of Law to confirm legal options and will coordinate with Planning & Zoning on inspection and enforcement approaches. If Enterprise fails to appear, the committee said it may pursue formal subpoenas or other legal remedies based on the law office's recommendations.