DeKalb County

More issues found at apartments where stairs were removed

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County code enforcement officer and the fire marshal found new problems at a Decatur apartment complex.

Channel 2's Sophia Choi highlighted the Maple Walk Apartments last week when residents got trapped on the top floor and required emergency rescue.

County leaders started focusing on the complex after the emergency rescue and have tried to get the owner to fix the place up.

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Choi went through the Decatur apartment complex, both inside and outside, with the DeKalb County fire marshal and a code enforcement officer.

The county said it found issues at every building at the Maple Walk Apartments, including the building that still has no stairs.

stairs gone

One resident said for three years now, the owner of the property has refused to fix it up and that's now causing health problems.

Among the problems with the apartments, Choi saw a sagging balcony with missing support, gutters with tiny trees growing out of them, siding gone and a dirty pool.

“That’s a hazard with glass, and we have kids in the area,” said Officer Hawthone Herring.

Inside a resident's unit, there was evidence of water leaks, holes with exposed pipes and possible mold.

unsafe railings

“We done had 13 water leaks, which is concerning, more than concerning,” said resident Rashun Brown. “And as far as my parents' health, I’m more than concerned about their health.”

“We’ve been able to identify nine violations with this particular unit,” said Herring.

Despite issuing numerous citations, the DeKalb County Code Enforcement Division is having a hard time getting things done at the apartment complex, and that’s why the county is looking to beef up the codes, to get a quick fix for the residents.

“In the future, in situations like these, where the county can act and be able to correct it immediately, as well as be able to put that lien on the property,” said DeKalb Fire Marshall Joseph Cox.

For now, the county can only cite owners and eventually take them to court, and that’s exactly what they plan to do with the owners of the Maple Walk Apartments.