Residents at apartment complex where 4-year-old drowned complain of safety hazards

Overgrown grass, piles of trash and lighting are all issues that tenants at the Preserve at St. Nicholas in Jacksonville said the apartment management is neglecting.

“If you look around, you can tell they neglect,” a resident said.

A woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the complex no longer has working lights at night and it’s a safety issue.

“It’s horrible, especially in the night, you can’t see anything and I’m scared,” the woman said.

In March, Action News Jax reported that a 4-year-old drowned in the pool at the complex.

The child's family filed a lawsuit against the management, claiming they knew the pool was dangerous, but neglected to fix the issues.

When Action News Jax went to the pool it was closed with a chain around the fence.

“We don’t have pool, we don’t have nothing,” the woman said.

Since that incident, residents said issues have gotten worse.

“The maintenance isn’t doing anything, they just around, but they don’t come in,” a resident said.

Residents also said the office is rarely open and it’s hard to get a hold of management.

“When they’re supposed to be open, they never open,” a resident said.

The manager at the complex told Action News Jax he had no comment when asked about the issues.

Residents said if things don’t get better they will be looking for a new place to live.

“I’m trying to move now,” a woman said.

Right now the complex still has water, but JEA said it will be shutting off water and sewage if the balance by property management is not paid.

We also reached out to the city to see if there have been any complaints or citations for the complex and. That request is being looked into by the city.

Cox Media Group