Actions

Records, photos show multiple code violations at Tulsa apartment complex

By: Cathy Tatom

Posted at 5:11 PM, Jun 27, 2024

TULSA, Okla. — The Crossing at Southern Hills Apartments has a long history of multiple code violations.

Last summer, residents called the 2 News Problem Solvers when air conditioning didn't work during a heat wave.

WATCH:

Residents report no A/C in apartment

And this month, when trash overflowed dumpsters for two weeks, residents called 2 News again.

After a visit from the Problem Solvers the complex manager had the dumpsters emptied that day. They didn't clean up the trash piled up alongside the dumpsters and in the middle of the parking lot.

WATCH that story here:

HEAPS OF TRASH: Tenants want trash cleaned up at Tulsa apartment complex

This time after 2 News reported the conditions, code enforcement visited the complex and gave them 72 hours to clean everything up. It didn't happen.

"We did issue a work order," said Kevin Cox with Tulsa's Code Enforcement Office. "Our abatement contractor who subsequently went out there, cleaned up the property and had to board up a couple of vacant apartments."

2 News filed an open records request for the complex and found photos and violation reports that detail issues from October 2023:

Electrical issues inside and outside apartments
Falling down fences
Overgrown grass and weeds
Unsafe stairs
and trash where it should not be

GALLERY: CROSSINGS AT SOUTHERN HILLS CODE VIOLATIONS

Fast forward to June.

"There's still multiple violations out there regarding property maintenance, zoning, and other nuisance violations," Cox said.

Crossings at Southern Hills code violation

Tulsa's code enforcement office and fire marshal's office work together to bring multi-family complexes into code compliance, but it can be a slow process.

"We are pro-business, we are pro-helping the community become compliant." said Tulsa Fire Department's Andy Little. "It's very important to us that these that these residents and the citizens of Tulsa have a safe place to live."

It gives residents hope other issues will be fixed.

A fire marshal's office inspector returned to the property on June 26.

"They have done some work trying to become compliant," said Little. "It's my understanding they have installed smoke detectors in all the units and we have inspected their fire extinguishers - many things they have done - still there are many things that have not been done."

Anyone living in Tulsa can report suspected code violations to the city by dialing 311. The names of those making complaints are kept confidential so tenant don't have to fear retaliation for making complaints.