TULSA, Okla — Three years after tenants were forced to leave, the ownership group of the now vacant Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments, settled with the displaced residents.
The total settlement is around $400,000.
Ayanna Sutton remembers when she moved into the Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments, “it was nice for you know, my first apartment. The atmosphere seemed OK, not too bad.”
For some of her neighbors, the atmosphere turned out poorly. Pictures in the class action petition show the conditions inside the apartments.
As of publishing time the management group, CITYR did not respond to 2 News. They operate out of Houston, New Jersey and Israel.
Sutton lived in a Downtown Tulsa hotel and an apartment complex near 51st and Memorial before getting the duplex where she lives now. She is one of the residents who is set to receive $2,010.47 as part of the settlement.
The lead members will receive $16,000 a piece for their work leading the lawsuit.
“It is a big relief, but I feel like it could be a little bit more,” Sutton said.
Tulsa attorney Jared Burden, who represented the residents, agreed “the settlement amount is obviously too little, but it was the best we could achieve.”
He is relieved the residents can move on after three years of litigation.
“It was pretty sad. A lot of families lived there, you know, people with kids,” Sutton said, “It was before I had my daughter, so I couldn’t imagine going through that with kids.”
Burden told 2 News he is trying to track down everyone eligible for these payments. However, for those who can’t be tracked down, he’ll give the extra money to Housing Solutions of Tulsa.
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