The embattled owners of the Bon Air Apartments are facing more pressure over the complex as Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.) sent a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development officials urging an investigation of the management and living conditions at the historic former hotel.
According to the letter sent to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, Allen voiced concerns of residents at the property, located at 2101 Walton Way, who have reported “growing mold, [an] infestation of roaches and rats, stained carpets, the smell of urine in the stairways and a lack of security.”
Allen’s letter calls for a formal investigation into the “unlivable conditions” at the Bon Air, requesting Fudge turn over any documents Redwood Housing Partners has provided HUD with respect to planned renovations, according to a press release sent by Allen’s office.
Bon Air Apartments is privately owned by Redwood Housing and subsidized by Section 8 which is governed by HUD.
The Congressman owns property nearby, and residents in the Summerville neighborhood have complained that they have heard gunshots coming from the property and have witnessed drug deals being transacted in broad daylight.
Allen’s letter was sent the same day that the Augusta Planning and Zoning Department sent Redwood Housing, located in Texas, a formal notice to have multiple code issues remedied within 30 days or face the possible closure of the property.
An April 1 inspection cited missing ceiling tiles, broken door jambs, broken light fixtures, missing baseboards and graffiti painted throughout building.
According to the inspection report, one elevator is out of service, and the building’s plumbing was cited for “improper installation, deterioration or damage.”
District 3 Commissioner Catherine McKnight has led the charge to force Redwood Housing into compliance by conducting inspections with Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden. Last month, a full inspection by the fire marshal’s office found 19 fire code violations. The fire marshal is due to re-inspect the building on April 15.
According to Randall McElfresh, senior construction manager at Redwood Housing, the company is working diligently to abate the fire code issues.
“Most of the items have been resolved, and we have the last few that we are working through, keeping the fire department in the loop to complete by the 15th,” McElfresh said in an April 7 interview.
According to McElfrest, the company has also taken significant steps to improve security by hiring a security guard, installing cameras and limiting access to only the front door. However, McKnight says the company talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk.
“I just drove by there today, and I’ll be damned if that side door wasn’t propped wide open,” McKnight said. “They have done nothing for the past year but issue empty promises.”
Former Regional Director of HUD, Bob Young, says the bureaucratic culture of HUD is to work with owners to improve living conditions rather than take drastic action such as stripping a building of its Section 8 designation.
“I only know of one time, and granted I haven’t been there in 15 years, but I remember only one building being stripped of its Section 8 contract, and that was because the building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, so nobody could live there,” Young said.
However, Young says that Allen’s involvement might spur some much needed action by HUD.
“When a Congressional inquiry is made, they tend to make it a priority,” Young said.
The Bon Air was constructed in 1923 after the original building burned in 1921. For decades, it operated as a luxury hotel with close ties to the Masters Tournament. In the early 1960s, the building was converted into a retirement home and much later became a Section 8 property.
The current contract has the building operating as Section 8 housing until 2055.
Meanwhile, McKnight says she is not stopping with Bon Air and plans to devote just as much attention to the Richmond Summit on Broad Street, which is also owned by Redwood Housing.
“I know that building is not in my district, but it doesn’t matter, I will work with (District 1) Commissioner Johnson to see that building cleaned up. We as a society cannot just allow any company to use taxpayer funds to provide squalid living conditions,” McKnight said.
Redwood Housing responded to questions through its attorney.
“We will be extending an invitation to Congressman Allen to visit the property, discuss the improvements we have already made, and talk about our broader renovation plans to revitalize Bon Air Apartments,” wrote Chuck Rullman, general counsel for Redwood Housing.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
