Aurora shuts down apartment complex as tenants struggle to find new homes
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — The city of Aurora closed an apartment complex on Tuesday, saying it was unsafe and unfit for people to live in. The complex was filled with many immigrants who must now find a new place to stay.
There was a chaotic scene outside the apartments in the 1500 block of Nome Street in Aurora as the complex was going through the abatement process. FOX31 found entire families on the street saying they had nowhere to go after the city shut down the complex near Colfax Avenue and Nome Street.
Related: Groups ask for community help to provide space for migrants
Earlier in the morning, a team of police officers and code enforcement teams went door to door in the 98-unit building to make sure everyone was out.
“It’s very difficult,” resident Betty Rodriguez said.
Week’s notice to vacate Aurora apartment building
The city of Aurora said it shut the complex down because living conditions are unfit for human habitation and code violations dating back two years ago.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman called the owners of the complex “slumlords.”
The owners of the complex and CBZ Management claimed they could not do maintenance or repairs because the complex was overrun by a migrant gang.
Housing advocates say tenants were being treated unfairly.
“Because the city only gave them notice of six days with today being the last day, a lot of organizations rallying behind this, they were only able to start collaborating Friday of last week,” said V Reeves, with Housekeys Action Network Denver.
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“They didn’t give us enough time” resident Joermaera Bolivar said.
Bolivar and her son were not given enough time to move out.
The city said it was trying to help people find new temporary housing. The apartment complex’s management team said it had no further comment on Tuesday.
The city of Aurora and the complex are expected to square off in court.
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