Montgomery council orders inspections after residents report no heat, water and electrical hazards at Highland Village and Rosa Parks apartments

A group of Montgomery residents told the city council they have endured months without basic services and dangerous electrical conditions at Highland Village and Rosa Parks Place apartments, prompting the council to order inspections and require owners to return to the next meeting.

At the council meeting, an unidentified tenant said she, five grandchildren and other families have lacked heat and hot water, and had recently been forced into motels while repairs continue. "We've been in a motel since last month, so we wouldn't freeze to death," the resident said, describing space-heater usage and depleted funds.

City inspectors confirmed they have visited both properties. Pat McGilberry of the inspections office said the department conducted visits and issued a 10-day repair list for recurring violations and a 60-day follow-up list for other issues. Fire department staff said fire alarms, sprinkler systems and elevator paperwork have been addressed in inspections at Rosa Parks Place, but follow-up was required.

Council members repeatedly raised the risk of displacing dozens of families if the city pursues enforcement actions now that could lead to a cease-and-desist or padlock. A member warned, "If we get inspections and business license to go and do what they did with the Terrence, they go and lock it up. That's 41 families that would be displaced. Where would they go?" The question underscored the council's concern for immediate resident welfare alongside enforcing housing standards.

Council directed inspections to return within 30 days for both properties, asked staff to coordinate welfare checks and requested property owners appear at the next council meeting. Councilor comments also noted that Highland Village had not held a business license since 2024, which limits some enforcement options at the municipal level.

The council did not adopt a sanction or revoke a license at the meeting; instead members focused on inspections, a timeline for repairs and working with housing and legal staff on next steps. Officials said eviction or formal displacement would require due process under state law and that tenants should follow eviction-response procedures to protect their rights.

The council asked city staff to report back on inspection findings and to arrange in-person discussions with owners and tenant representatives. The next procedural step specified at the meeting is a return visit and an update at the following council session.