Cedar Run tenants sue proprietor, landlord over alleged unsafe residing circumstances

Tenants on the Cedar Run condo advanced in Denver filed a lawsuit Monday in opposition to the proprietor and administration firm, alleging unsafe circumstances and that possession has failed to take care of the property.

The swimsuit was filed in Denver County Courtroom by two tenants — Mark Sokolaj and Haley Eicher — who declare that the southeast Denver condo advanced at 888 S. Oneida St. typically has a number of unsecured doorways that go away tenants susceptible to break-ins and crime. The lawsuit states the problems date again to no less than 2020.

The lawsuit was filed in opposition to Gelt Enterprise Companions and Residence Administration Consultants, LLC.

On account of the unsecured doorways, the lawsuit states that hallways and stairwells are “suffering from blood stains, bullet holes, needles and drug paraphernalia, human waste,” and notes different hazards similar to lacking smoke detectors and hearth extinguishers.

“We have seen violence and vandalism from individuals who do not dwell right here. You by no means know who belongs right here and who does not. It is scary, and it causes conflicts,” Sokolaj stated throughout a press convention Monday. “The property has been destroyed. Our mailboxes have been ripped out of the wall, and we have to go to the submit workplace to gather mail. Our laundry rooms have been destroyed. We will not do laundry on website.”

On one event, the lawsuit alleges that vandalism befell in utility rooms, leaving a portion of the advanced with out electrical energy and water.

You’ll be able to learn the complete lawsuit beneath.

The issues are ongoing, in keeping with the lawsuit, regardless of fines and liens from the Denver Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere (DDPHE).

In keeping with DDPHE, the division has fielded 38 complaints since 2023 and issued 17 citations, totaling $60,498. Possession has paid seven of these citations, totaling $19,249. Two citations are being appealed whereas the remaining are overdue or in collections.

DDPHE has additionally positioned three liens on the property since October 2024. A kind of liens was paid off. The latest lien was positioned on March 4 for $10,999.

“It takes quite a lot of braveness to face as much as a bully landlord who’s failing to repair repairs, repair doorways, and get a constructing into working situation,” stated legal professional Andrew Lipscomb, who’s representing the tenants. “We’re excited to get some form of decision right here, whether or not it is voluntarily via the owner or via the courts.”

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Gelt Enterprise Companions supplied a press release Monday to Denver7 Investigates. It reads:

“We’re doing every part in our energy to offer our residents with a clear and protected place to name residence. We’re persistently working with the Denver well being division to restore – and sometimes re-repair – exterior and inside injury sometimes attributable to non- residents who break into the buildings. Now we have just lately spent $200,000 on new doorways, higher lighting, locks and different upkeep. Moreover, Denver police examine on the property each week, and we’re working with them to cease those that aren’t residents from getting into our buildings to get heat.”

The condo advanced was within the information in early February when it was on the heart of an immigration enforcement operation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Watch our protection from the operation within the video beneath:

Denver condo advanced focused by feds Wednesday had been on metropolis’s radar

Following these raids, the proprietor of the advanced blamed the Metropolis of Denver for “assigning” immigrants to dwell on the advanced and saying that this was the basis reason behind the advanced’s points.

The Metropolis of Denver denied these claims.

At Monday’s press convention, Denver Metro Tenants Union Govt Director Eida Altman positioned the blame on the proprietor and administration firm for the circumstances.

“These slumlords might blame tenants, they might blame the Metropolis of Denver, and they are going to decide on immigrants,” Altman stated. “However the issues which have persevered at Cedar Run return years. And they’re squarely, solely the duty of Gelt Ventures.”

The advanced has been on town’s radar for roughly a yr because it was recognized as a criminal offense sizzling spot by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s workplace. Denver police information reveals that the advanced had 143 requires service between March 31, 2024 and Jan. 12, 2025. Denver Police Cmdr. Joel Bell stated nonetheless that the division had seen a dip in violent crime at Cedar Run.

“There was a big lower in calls of service for violent crimes or weapons offenses specifically,” Bell stated. “Now we have had a rise in different kinds of calls of service: disturbances, home violence. And that is truly what we would like as a result of we’re doing extra group outreach the place we’re constructing belief.”

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