Rat-Infested N.J. Apartment Complex Is Breeding ‘Blight, Suffering’: Mayor

Rats, urine, human feces, drug dealers and mold. That’s what brought city officials to the Garden Spires housing complex, authorities say.

On Monday, a consortium of officials joined tenants of the Newark apartment buildings at 175 First Street to announce that the City of Newark has filed a legal complaint in Essex County Superior Court against First King Properties and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over allegedly “uninhabitable conditions” at the two residential towers that make up the complex.

A spokesperson for Garden Spire Apartments said that the property's owners are "very disappointed" with the lawsuit, and that owners have been stymied in their effort to sell the property to a "highly qualified buyer" for the past four years. [Read Garden Spires' full statement below]

According to the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness, current issues at the apartment buildings include:

• rat-infested and unsanitary stairwells
• evidence of urine and human feces
• poor or inadequate ventilation which creates severe mold
• defective radiators
• deteriorated stand pipes
• damaged window guards
• excessive garbage in public areas
• active illegal drug activities

According to a statement from city officials:

“The lawsuit seeks the appointment of a receiver and a court order declaring the buildings uninhabitable, as well as the evacuation and relocation of the tenants at the expense of the landlords, First King Properties. Specifically, this action seeks relief on behalf of the city in connection with the numerous documented housing violations by the landlord and the landlord's failure to maintain the property in a livable condition. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is also named in the complaint as it appears that the property owners are inappropriately collecting financial contributions from HUD for apartments that are uninhabitable and/or vacant.”

First King has a long history of code violations, Newark officials stated.

"For far too long, these horribly managed buildings have been a breeding ground for disease, crime, blight, and suffering in Newark,” Mayor Ras Baraka said on Monday. “They have been a stain on our city, and a source of misery and pain for residents. We are determined to ensure a safe and healthy place to live for Garden Spires residents. Working with our state and federal partners, we will remove this blight and provide residents with the housing and community they deserve.”

• See related article: Newark Apartment Building Raided For Code Violations

GARDEN SPIRES REPLIES

“We are very disappointed at this lawsuit,” said Ronn Torossian, a spokesperson for Garden Spire Apartments.

“The reality is that for nearly four years, we have been in contract with a highly qualified buyer to take ownership of the Garden Spires property in Newark to address all issues, and rehabilitate the building. The buyer, a market leader in rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing has committed to investing more than $43 million to refurbish this building, without displacing any residents. This buyer has New Jersey experience, and this process will better the community.”

Torossian said that he was “bewildered” as to why Garden Spire has not been approved to sell the property.

“We hope the government will work with the qualified buyer who is at the table as it’s in the best interest of tenants, the city and state,” he stated. “If there's no solution and tenants need to be relocated it will cost taxpayers significant money and harm the area. We implore the state to allow this deal to go through in the interest of the residents of both the property itself, and the City of Newark."

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