Del City Apartment Complex Condemned By City

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

DEL CITY, Oklahoma -- A Del City property complex was condemned and its residents are now being forced to move out.

Shanalea Tubbs moved into the Kristie Manor complex four years ago, and at the time she said it was in a good condition. Recently, however, Tubbs said the Kristie Manor apartments have been infested with mold.

The conditions forced Del City city inspectors to condemn the apartments.

Tamara Hammond and her family moved into the complex two weeks ago from California, and is already being forced to leave their new home.

"I can't sleep at night, I'm really afraid of the mice," Hammond said. "I know I shouldn't be, but I'm really afraid."

Hammond and others said they stayed so long because they signed a lease, but Oklahoma law says if landlords fail to provide essential services and a safe environment, tenants may give written notice specifying the breach and immediately terminate the rental agreement.

City Planner Tom Leatherbee said his staff has spent up to 20 hours a week dealing with the California man who owns Kristie Manor and two other condemned properties in town.

"All of them are infested with mold," Leatherbee said. "They have structural problems."

The city wants to demolish each complex, much to the delight of neighbors who say the complex is an eye sore.

"That's not Del City, but this is the experience they've had and it's terrible," Del City resident Lori Whetstine said. "Especially at Christmas time, this is just awful."

The owner, Shashikant Jogani offered to move residents to another property he owns in Oklahoma City, but many families said they'll pass on the offer. They, just like the city, are fed up with Jogani.