TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols is starting proactive inspections at multi-family properties to identify and address short-term neglect.
In a Facebook post announcing the inspections, Nichols said the inspections are part of his plan to pre-identify issues before they arise and prevent apartment complexes from falling into disrepair and becoming unlivable.
He cited the trouble at the Vista Shadow Mountain Apartment complex. He called the property "a symbol of what can happen when a property gets neglected."
2 News Oklahoma started covering issues at Vista Shadow Mountain in 2021.
That's when we learned the complex owed thousands of dollars behind on its water bill. Tenants living in the approximately 100 occupied units of the 500-unit complex reported their water had been turned off.
Later the same month the Tulsa Fire Marshall found multiple code violations and ordered tenants to leave. After that the empty complex closed and never reopened.
Additional Coverage >>> $400,000: Vista Shadow Mountain Apt. ownership settles with evicted residents
In his announcement, Nichols said proactive inspections could have avoided the closure of the complex. He also said a "Notice of Violation" was posted on the property this week, and called that "one of the tools at our disposal to ensure this property is restored to habitable conditions on a timeline that is accountable."
Nichols said the city is continuing to explore all possible options for the property while utilizing proactive inspections to prevent other properties from ending up in a similar situation.
He also reiterated his goal to bring 6,000 affordable housing units online by 2028 and to return blighted property to a fully functional state.
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