FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 4/15/09) "We're left for dead."
Tenants are fuming after they say their apartment manager high-tailed it out of town. They say their apartments -- and lives -- are in limbo.
The Treasure Park Apartments are in shambles and today renters thought the water was on the verge of getting cut off. The sprawling apartment complex used to be called the Watkins Manor Apartments in the 2600 block of North Watkins. It seems, the owner's money troubles have landed at their front doors and folks are just trying to decide if they should stay or go.
Buckets of water fill Cordia Bratcher's kitchen. Even though she pays her rent on time, she and neighbors have been stockpiling drinking water because they were scared theirs would be cut-off Wednesday. MLGW says the owner, Watkins Manor LLC, owes $20,000 in water bills. And it appears, that's just a drop in the bucket. At least two liens total more than $125,000 and are being held by a City of Memphis housing board because back in December, Tennessee-based Watkins Manor LLC sold the place to Watkins Manor LLC out of Missouri. The transaction went through for ten dollars, and then the management disappeared. The office is empty, but still someone collects rent. In fact, a new company posted an urgent warning, demanding cash and threatening eviction. So far, News Channel 3 has been unable to find any documents that say the company, Evergreen Property Management, has any legitimate stake in the apartments.
"I think it's a scam," says Lynsdy Bradshaw. "They pulled a fast one on us."
The nine-acre complex has no managers, no maintenance and no security. For now, the water is running because MLGW says the property owners are battling in court, but tomorrow is another story. Bradshaw thinks the guy who takes his money, left them high and dry.
"We're just normal people paying our rent. We didn't ask him to jot his personal telephone number down because we didn't know he was getting ready to do us like that."
- Treasure Park Apartments(former Watkins Manor Apts) change landlords
- Renters get water cut off notice
- Landlord not paying bills
(Memphis 4/15/09) "We're left for dead."
Tenants are fuming after they say their apartment manager high-tailed it out of town. They say their apartments -- and lives -- are in limbo.
The Treasure Park Apartments are in shambles and today renters thought the water was on the verge of getting cut off. The sprawling apartment complex used to be called the Watkins Manor Apartments in the 2600 block of North Watkins. It seems, the owner's money troubles have landed at their front doors and folks are just trying to decide if they should stay or go.
Buckets of water fill Cordia Bratcher's kitchen. Even though she pays her rent on time, she and neighbors have been stockpiling drinking water because they were scared theirs would be cut-off Wednesday. MLGW says the owner, Watkins Manor LLC, owes $20,000 in water bills. And it appears, that's just a drop in the bucket. At least two liens total more than $125,000 and are being held by a City of Memphis housing board because back in December, Tennessee-based Watkins Manor LLC sold the place to Watkins Manor LLC out of Missouri. The transaction went through for ten dollars, and then the management disappeared. The office is empty, but still someone collects rent. In fact, a new company posted an urgent warning, demanding cash and threatening eviction. So far, News Channel 3 has been unable to find any documents that say the company, Evergreen Property Management, has any legitimate stake in the apartments.
"I think it's a scam," says Lynsdy Bradshaw. "They pulled a fast one on us."
The nine-acre complex has no managers, no maintenance and no security. For now, the water is running because MLGW says the property owners are battling in court, but tomorrow is another story. Bradshaw thinks the guy who takes his money, left them high and dry.
"We're just normal people paying our rent. We didn't ask him to jot his personal telephone number down because we didn't know he was getting ready to do us like that."
