Owner of Columbus East Side apartment complex ordered to fix over 280 code violations
The Columbus City Attorney's office has entered into a court-ordered agreement with the limited partnership owners of an East Side apartment complex to fix more than 280 code violations, including trash and pest infestation problems.
Ardmore Village Apartments complex, based at 51 Mayfair Blvd., is located just southeast of the intersection of East Broad Street and James Road.
According to the court order signed Monday by Franklin County Environmental Judge Stephanie Mingo, 28 apartments were out of compliance with a total 283 code violations, six emergency interior violations, two zoning code violations and nine health, sanitation and safety violations.
The complex is owned by a limited partnership, Mayfair Apts LP of Philadelphia, which has owned the property since May 2019, when it brought the apartments for $11.2 million, according to the Franklin County auditor's office. The company advertises on apartments.com that Ardmore Village is "one of the most desirable and affordable communities in Columbus."
Under the order, Mayfair agreed to regular trash and litter pickup, install cameras to try to prevent illegal dumping, work to fill vacant apartments, and employ at least seven full-time maintenance workers.
“If you operate rental housing in Columbus and fail to meet the standard for safe and sanitary living conditions, we will hold you accountable. City residents deserve better than to have absent, derelict landlords,” City Attorney Zach Klein said in a press release.
Quay Barnes, who leads the Mid-East Area Commission, said trash and litter have been a concern for community leaders and residents for two to three years. She wondered if Ardmore Village apartment managers didn't tell residents what to do with garbage.
"We saw broken garage doors," Barnes said. "It’s terrible for such a solidly built, spacious apartment complex that houses families and is convenient to everything in the city."
A lawyer for the owner, Dimitri Hatzifotinos, said the owners will be dealing with the issues, including placing trash receptacles in multiple areas for residents, and fixing interior and exterior problems.
"We're working with the city to get (the violations) corrected," he said.
The judge set a status conference for May 6.
@MarkFerenchik
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Judge orders East Side apartment owner to clean up trash, fix problems
