Neighbors concerned over trash at Atlantic Beach apartment complex

Theresa Saenz said she wants to move because of the trash that has been piling up in her neighborhood.

Saenz lives at the Mariner's Village Apartments in Mayport.

She said since new ownership took over the property a few months ago, the trash rarely is cleaned up.

“Now we’re lucky if they come on Saturdays,” said Saenz. “It piles up, it piles up, they’ll come, they’ll pick it up. They’ll dump it, but they can’t get it back in there, so the dumpster will slowly keep coming this way.”

Saenz said the spilling garbage is attracting rats, one of which she says tried to attack her.

She said the worst part is that it’s only a few yards away from the apartment playground.

“The children come down and play. They can’t do that now, because children don’t know,” she said. “A rat comes up and bites them, the child has to get rabies shots.”

Neighbors also showed us rotting wood and broken stair rails. She and other neighbors told us the neglect is becoming more serious.

Mariner's Village is managed by Horizon Realty Management. When we went to the leasing office for answers, we were asked to leave the property.

We reached out to Horizon’s main office, and received this statement from a spokesperson:

"During our due diligence process for the purchase of this property, the Owner was made aware of repair projects that need to be addressed. We are currently finishing one project at a time until all projects are complete.

"Mirajh, L.P has just acquired this property and is very excited about doing multiple improvements the previous owner was unable to complete during his ownership."

We reached out to Advanced Disposal to ask about the neighbors’ concerns. A spokesperson told me the company is waiting to find out whether Horizon will increase pickup service at the apartment complex.

A Horizon official at Mariner's Village apartments told Action News Jax garbage pickup day would be on Thursdays.

A neighbor sent us video of the garbage being picked up at the complex Thursday afternoon.

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