CLEVELAND — Residents and Cleveland city leaders report what they believe are potentially hazardous and unacceptable living conditions at the Allerton Apartments on E. 13 Street in downtown Cleveland.
Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones told News 5 he led a city inspection team though the HUD-subsidized complex on May 10 and said apartment ownership will be issued additional health violations.
Jones showed News 5 open ceilings and walls at the 199-unit property, along with exposed electrical wiring, a broken elevator, unsecured windows and broken laundry room equipment.
Cleveland Housing Court told News 5 building ownership is already facing multiple health violations for unsecured trash, rodents, insects and junk.
Jones said the complex is likely in violation of its agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and shouldn't be issued anymore taxpayer dollars until all health violations are rectified.
"To walk through this place, and to know people are experiencing this every single day, it just breaks my heart," Jones said. "There's mold under sinks, the washers and dryers are broken. All these things are happening. There is no way they should be able to do business in our community."
Thekisha Tutstone is worried about the safety of her young son and other children at the complex.
"It's kids living here, and it's sad that they have to live in these conditions," Tutstone said. "The maintenance team, they don't care, the apartment manager she don't care."
"My son has high levels of lead in his blood, his skin tested positive for mold, roaches and pests," Tutstone said. "I mean it is just sad, it's sad, it's sad."
News 5 placed phone calls to Allerton Apartment ownership and management, but our calls were not returned.
HUD officials told News 5 it is working to improve its 20-year-old inspection system, and confirmed the Allerton Apartments hasn't been inspected since 2016.
