Remediation underway at Colorado Springs Apartment Complex

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Remediation work is underway at a Colorado Springs apartment complex following renter complaints.

Walter Hillery, a renter at the Alex Place Apartments in Colorado Springs, contacted 13 Investigates worried about potential health impacts from recent water damage.

Hillery walks into his bathroom and pulls away the tile to reveal what he claims apartment complex managers told him is black mold.

Just on the other side of the wall, on the outside of his apartment, reads a note in black marker, “Tub Leak.”

“When the living conditions are like this, it's unacceptable,” Hillery said.

Hillery moved into the Alex Place Apartments at 1009 North Alexander Road, east of Downtown Colorado Springs, in 2016. He said there were problems from the beginning that only required minor fixes.

It wasn’t until the historic amount of rainfall in May and June, that Hillery started noticing structural deficiencies of the apartment complex. Videos from recent storms show rain leaking through his doorframe and windows and running down the inside of his apartment.

He said the balcony above his apartment slants backward, toward the building, funneling all the rain right into his apartment. In the last two months, he noticed a black substance growing underneath his living room carpet and on the floors and walls of his bathroom.

The property management company, Griffis Blessing, only did “band-aid fixes,” according to Hillery. They sucked the water out of the carpet and blow-dried the apartment for three days. But another storm ruined what management originally repaired.

“It became critical two months ago with the amount of rain we had and all the storms back-to-back,” Hillery said.

He told 13 Investigates he filed complaints in May with both the property management company and the owners, Grand West Properties, but alleges long-term fixes were never done. 13 Investigates contacted both Griffis Blessing and Grand West Properties Tuesday but at the time of the publication of this article on July 4, our team had not heard back.

“It's just total negligence and disregard for the health and safety of the tenants,” he said.

He stayed with friends for a while until he learned his apartment was going to be repaired on July 13 — two months after he raised concerns about the leaks and mold. In the meantime, the property owners are paying for him to stay at a motel.

Once the repair work is done, Hillery said he will move back in because he has no other choice.

“I just don't have the finances to move into a place that's going to be $400, $500, $600 a month more,” he said.

Grand West Properties Management told 13 Investigates six days after the initial report that contractors did find asbestos and water damage in Hillery's apartment, however, claimed there was no clear, visual evidence of mold. Inspectors "do not believe" there is any presence of mold.

Since 13 Investigates' initial report, all 24 apartments in the complex were inspected. The management company said only one unit tested positive for mold.

The owner of Grand West Properties Management however said that mold isn't from the recent rain but rather it's an isolated issue with a tenant who left the water running. That unit is being re-mediated.

Grand West Properties Management told 13 Investigates they've been proactive with addressing renters' concerns - adding that remediation efforts on both units began weeks before the July 4 report.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story said there was black mold present in Mr. Hillery's apartment unit. Grand West Properties says inspectors do not believe there is any presence of mold in Hillery's apartment unit. However, the management company said if mold is discovered during the remediation process it will be addressed.