{"id":143588,"date":"2025-08-13T23:19:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T23:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/143588\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T23:19:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T23:19:08","slug":"houston-councilwoman-congressman-tour-sunnyside-apartment-in-deplorable-condition-demand-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/143588\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston councilwoman, congressman tour Sunnyside apartment in \u2018deplorable\u2019 condition, demand change"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 A day after residents exposed deplorable living conditions at a Houston apartment complex, federal and local elected officials saw the problem firsthand. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">KPRC 2, with the permission and invitation of one of the tenants at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liveatcullenpark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.liveatcullenpark.com\/\">Cullen Park Apartments<\/a>, asked Houston City Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and Congressman Al Green to visit the property in order to see how they can hold the landlord accountable following widespread reports of severe health and safety hazards, including mold infestations, rodents, and potential sewage leaks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Within just a few minutes of seeing the situation, Congressman Al Green declared the property \u201cuninhabitable\u201d and is now proposing new legislation to protect low-income tenants following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.click2houston.com\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/12\/id-rather-live-in-a-shelter-residents-at-houston-apartment-complex-plead-for-help-amid-unsafe-living-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.click2houston.com\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/12\/id-rather-live-in-a-shelter-residents-at-houston-apartment-complex-plead-for-help-amid-unsafe-living-conditions\/\">report <\/a>by KPRC 2 that exposed the problems. <\/p>\n<p><b>Health Hazards&#8230; many of them<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Michele Williams, who receives housing assistance through a federal HUD program, has documented a horrifying list of issues during her five-year tenancy. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cMy stove doesn\u2019t work. My refrigerator doesn\u2019t close. I\u2019ve killed 26 rats inside my apartment,\u201d Williams said in an interview with KPRC 2\u2019s Joy Addison on Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The situation reached a crisis point when Williams discovered maggots crawling across her daughter\u2019s bedroom carpet, which had been soaked for over three weeks due to unaddressed water damage. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cMy baby actually has bronchitis right now,\u201d Williams said, describing how the family abandoned the bedroom due to health concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Williams invited KPRC 2 back to her home on Wednesday, along with city and federal elected officials, as she continues to plead for help with the apartment complex management. <\/p>\n<p><b>Management Resistance<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Property managers have reportedly used intimidation tactics to suppress complaints. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">On Tuesday, loudspeakers at the complex broadcast warnings to residents about speaking with reporters or sharing issues on social media. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">When confronted by Rep. Green and Councilwoman Evans-Shabazz on Wednesday, management remained reluctant to address the issues on camera, despite both elected officials wearing microphones and KPRC 2 notifying the manager that the interaction was being recorded. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019m not doing cameras, so you guys can come in, but I\u2019m not doing the video cameras,\u201d the apartment manager told the elected leaders. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The apartment complex is owned by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marquisassetmgmt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.marquisassetmgmt.com\/\">Marquis Asset Management<\/a>, a Dallas-based firm. KPRC 2 asked the company for a statement. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThe on site management team responds to verifiable complaints promptly and they resolve issues that are visible to them just as promptly,\u201d a legal representative for the company, Kenneth Chaiken, wrote in part to KPRC 2.Hous \u201cIt is not uncommon for residents to complain for a lot of reasons, to media personnel, but they do not complain to us or we often find that their complaints are not real.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThis place is not habitable,\u201d Green declared after touring multiple units. \u201cHuman beings not only should not, but cannot live under these conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Regulatory Response<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The City of Houston\u2019s Department of Neighborhoods has already issued two citations to the property &#8211; one for excessive trash and another for rodent infestations. Management has been given 10 days to resolve these violations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Over the last six months, the City of Houston\u2019s 311 center has received over a dozen complaints about the Cullen Park Apartments property. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Some of those complaints include claims of \u201crats eatting through the wall and vents\u201d while others have \u201csewage coming from under carpet and creating magots.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Councilwoman Evans-Shabazz, who described the conditions as \u201cdespicable, deplorable, disgusting,\u201d promised immediate action at the city level. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cAs a city council member for the city of Houston, I will engage with the mayor to see what we can do expeditiously,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><b>Sparking A Change In Law <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The severity of conditions prompted Congressman Green to announce plans for new federal legislation targeting properties receiving low-income housing tax credits, all after seeing reporting by KPRC 2. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIf a property is condemned, then you have to cover the cost of the person moving and cover rental costs until the property is habitable,\u201d Green explained, outlining his proposed law.<\/p>\n<p><b>What Can Residents Do? <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">When Williams contacted HUD representatives, they offered to relocate her to another unit within the same complex. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWhy would I want to stay in the same conditions, just in a different unit?\u201d she asked. \u201cIf I have to pack up my things, put them in storage and stay at a shelter, I will. That\u2019s better than living with maggots and rats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The Houston HUD Field Office has not yet responded to inquiries about whether the complex currently meets federal housing standards. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Meanwhile, Green adopted what he called a \u201cwait and see attitude\u201d regarding management\u2019s response to the concerns, suggesting continued oversight of the situation.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 A day after residents exposed deplorable living conditions at a Houston apartment complex, federal and local&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":143589,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[85239,85236,85238,10882,85237,85235,1596,4345,728,85233,7835,6449,85234,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-143588","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-2-helps-you","9":"tag-85236","10":"tag-carolyn-evans-shabazz","11":"tag-city-of-houston","12":"tag-congressman-al-green","13":"tag-cullen-park-apartments","14":"tag-dallas","15":"tag-houston","16":"tag-local-news","17":"tag-marquis-asset-management","18":"tag-rats","19":"tag-rodents","20":"tag-sunnyside","21":"tag-texas","22":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115024020394081415","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}