Lakewood apartment residents say, “Enough is enough!”

Lakewood Apartments sign. Photo credit: Tina Cole-Mullins

By Tina Cole-Mullins

Residents of Lakewood apartment complex have had enough, just ask Frank Ulanowicz along with his neighbors who agree, “Enough is enough.” After going nearly a week without heat and then another weekend without water in complex A, residents want to be heard and don’t feel their problem has been solved. Instead they view efforts by management as just another Band-Aid on an ongoing issue.

Lakewood apartments, along with the Clinton West complex, located on South Clinton St., are managed by the PK Housing & Management Companies out of Okemos. The complex houses 32 units in their Lakewood A & B buildings and another 16 units at Clinton West. Both complexes offer low-income housing through Section 8.

Ulanowicz, a Vietnam War-era veteran now fights back against the fear of homelessness for speaking out. He can’t help but think about the homeless Veteran who made his way throughout the community a couple winters ago, and he wonders what ever became of him.

Hesitant at first to go on record for fear of landlord retaliation, Ulanowicz says, “If I lose my place, I wouldn’t have no place to go. I’d pack up what my truck would hold, and head south somewhere where I can at least be warm.”

Other residents share their experience, some on record, but with more willing to talk off record about recent issues. For example, the heat was off from Wednesday, November 27, and a note at the office located in the Clinton West complex stated there would not be anyone in the office over the Thanksgiving holiday. A couple residents did make contact with management, and electric heaters were distributed to those in need, like Marty Patrick.

“He had a heater, but he couldn’t use it like others,” said a frustrated Jessica Miller, Patrick’s caregiver and an employee with Aiding Hearts Home Health Care out of Howell.

“He can’t get up and down once in bed, and it would be unsafe to leave it on all night. No one should deal with this. I had to come in and heat water simply to perform my daily duties and meet his care needs. Then he didn’t even have water for 3 days after that and water had to be brought in for his needs,” Miller added.

Some of those who were able to contact management shared they were told nothing could be done until the following Monday; their heat was not actually restored until the following Tuesday, December 3.

“It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. As I was getting ready for bed I noticed we had no hot water,” said Heather Rowland who tried countless times to contact the maintenance guy and management.

Un-seeable trash dumpster, over-run on a regular basis with discarded furniture from re-occurring bedbug infestations. Photo credit: Tina Cole-Mullins

“I don’t see how anyone got through. What are we supposed to do, in an emergency when all calls go unanswered or the voicemail is full?” Rowland’s daughters told her, “Contact the news!”

“We went almost a week without heat, then get it back, and within a couple days we are without water,” Frank Ulanowicz went on to share later in our interview.

On the morning of Saturday, December 7, Marty Patrick woke at 4 am to a leak in his ceiling. “My dining room leak ruined my light. I could not even get a hold of the maintenance guy.” Most everyone mentioned that, outside of office hours, there is no onsite maintenance guy, and the current one lives in Haslett.

“It took calls from 4 am until he called me back at 7am and got here at 8:30 to turn it off, and it was off until Monday. My aide had to bring in water and heat it up to help me.”

Several residents seem to believe both the heat and leak issues are a result of the boiler system, hot water, and water pipes.

Heather Rowland took me around her apartment showing me leaks in most of the rooms. “Watch this!” She flushes her toilet, turns on her bath faucet, then backs off because, instantly, I witness as well as hear a heavy drip in the ceiling above the bath.

Vivian Risner of Lakewood apartments, B complex, shared, “I know the building across the parking lot had no water for over a week and their heat hasn’t been working. It seems like we take turns with the heat quitting. This past January, our building heat was off about a week. When my bathroom flooded, they didn’t care. I had to get people to help me.” She went on to share a long list of reported issues, including a doctor’s order for handicap modifications to the bathroom that has been unfilled for over a year now.

This writer contacted PK Housing & Management Companies. An un-named receptionist stated, “We have resolved the issue with the heat and determined that the apartments were not without water, but low water pressure—a village issue. We are working with the village on their side of the issue.”

I pushed on, asking how exactly that was the case. When I asked for her name, I was transferred and spoke in great length with Rob Sands. “We ensure the safety and comfort of our residents/clients. I don’t like calling them that as this is their home!”

I asked him to explain how the village is at fault with the issues being addressed. “Yesterday I met with Debbie Nogle and Molly Howlett on this matter of the water issues, pressure, and lines from the village affecting the apartment complex.”

Remaining signs of flooding issues in the laundry room – advertised as top amenity package like laundry service. Photo credit: Tina Cole- Mullins

Sands goes on to claim, “Some of these concerns could have been resolved had the village not denied a 504 Rural Housing Grant in 2016. I would also like to say we passed our government inspections six months ago through Rural Development Housing and we will be adding new flooring throughout in the coming months.”

Sands and I engaged in an open and informative interview in which he has offered to meet with me after the holidays to continue an open dialog with the residents on matters they can address and the steps and process to follow on matters outside their control.

As for residents who are hesitant to come forward at this time, and for those in fear of retaliation, many may not know: In almost every state landlord retaliation is against the law. And it is important to know your tenant rights against predatory landlords and management companies. Note that your landlord may not retaliate against you by raising the rent or evict you simply because you requested repairs or complained about code violations.

More information on your rights can be found at findlaw.com/michigan-law/michigan-tenants-rights-law

            This is an ongoing issue and developing story. This writer will continue to follow up and investigate.