Dozens of tenants at one local apartment complex in Jacksonville's Hyde Park say their building has been condemned -- and they now have just hours left to move out.
When Action News Jax arrived, people could be seen moving their belongings out of the London Towne Apartments on Lane Avenue South, and into U-Haul moving trucks Wednesday.
Actions News Jax's Courtney Cole spoke to neighbors who said management gave them very short notice and failed to take care of the property.
Neighbors said they just found out Tuesday that they have to be out of the building by Thursday, May 31, at 9 a.m.
“I actually had to walk off my job because we had a notice on our door...” —Why some Hyde Park neighbors are being told they have to be out of their apartments by tomorrow morning —coming up on @ActionNewsJax @ 5:11 pic.twitter.com/tpcLmPngLA
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) May 30, 2018
Many are frustrated, wondering where they’re going to go now.
Nicole Bennett said she got a phone call at work on Tuesday that turned everything upside down.
"I had to actually walk off my job because we had a notice on our door to vacate the premises,” said Bennett.
This mother of two says her apartment building was condemned because of roof problems.
"The roof fell on two people, in two people’s houses on the back side of my building,” said Bennett.
When Cole tried to get more information, from what appeared to be management at the complex, the young lady didn’t want to talk or give her name.
Bennett says she doesn't understand why she, along with the tenants in the 36 other units, are being punished for a problem they didn't create.
"You’re inconveniencing us. We pay our rent — why isn’t the roof fixed? This has been going since last year, since late September,” said Bennett.
Right now I’m working with the @CityofJax to find out the specific problems with the roof that led to condemnation of one of the apartment buildings here @ London Towne in Hyde Park. When I have that information, I’ll be sure to share it with you. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/fG7rkU39t6
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) May 30, 2018
Bennett says management told her they hired unlicensed roofers and she believes that’s where the problems began.
Cole reached out to the city of Jacksonville for more details about why the building was condemned, but she is still waiting to hear back.
In the meantime, Bennett says management has her feeling like they don't care what happens to her.
“They told my neighbor, 'If you don’t want to take what we’re offering, you can just leave'. Just like that," said Bennett.
Bennett says management offered to move her into another apartment on the premises.
“The one I was going to live in that they gave me...they’re still painting. You can’t move into an apartment — you need to at least give it two to three days to air out,” said Bennett.
#RIGHTNOW You can see there is now more one than one U-Haul truck, helping tenants prepare to move. Earlier this morning, when we first arrived, there was just one U-Haul truck. One neighbor tells me they were each given 3 boxes to pack their things. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/5ZtDrM2b9F
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) May 30, 2018
She says the three apartments that management showed her were even worse than the one she was currently living in, prior to the building being condemned.
“They actually still have furniture all through it. It’s still furniture and it’s flooded -- it’s flooded by the bathroom and by the bedroom it’s flooded. It’s not livable," said Bennett.
Cox Media Group
