Residents of Landmark Condominiums allege unlicensed management, seek council investigation

At a City of Atlanta council meeting, several residents of the Landmark Condominiums on International Boulevard and Piedmont Avenue urged the council to investigate alleged financial mismanagement, unlicensed property management and increases in short-term rental activity at the building.

The residents said the building’s board and a property manager, identified in public comment as Alex Betancur, had failed to provide requested financial records, improperly increased assessments and allowed commercial short-term rentals to proliferate in a residential tower.

"It has came to my knowledge that there is a property manager that goes by the name of Alex Betancur ... who I sent a cease and desist letter to on April requesting that she show proof of her real estate license," said Dominique J. Winters, who identified themself as a constitutional rights activist. Winters said Georgia law requires a license to manage properties of more than 12 units and urged the council to use subpoena power to obtain financial records, board minutes and communications.

Resident George Weidman IV described renovations and conversions for short-term rentals and said homeowners were being billed fees the community finds disproportionate. "The short term rental fee for our building was only $250 around a year ago," Weidman said. He said homeowners had organized, gained media and public support, and were documenting alleged retaliation and fee increases.

Fern T. Scott raised concerns about deferred-payment offers aimed at seniors, saying deferral programs can accumulate debt and lead to liens or foreclosure if not structured and administered carefully. "Offering deferred payments to seniors can absolutely be a hidden strategy to set up future foreclosures," Scott said.

At the meeting Laura Clemens, speaking for the Atlanta Metro Short Term Rental Alliance, said the organization supports an ordinance but asked for further discussion on grandfathering, distance rules, multifamily regulation and insurance requirements.

The speakers asked the council to investigate possible misuse of HOA funds, to require transparency from the board and property manager, and to consider protections for seniors. No formal council action on the Landmark issues was taken during the meeting; a number of speakers said they would provide additional notices and documentation to the council.

The Landmark residents were explicit that they were presenting allegations and asking the council to evaluate records and, if appropriate, refer matters to law enforcement. The council did not announce a formal investigation or subpoena at the meeting.