Jacksonville apartment complex condemned for sewage issues, families have days to vacate

Residents at a local apartment complex are being put on notice.

Neighbors at the Blanchard Apartments in Love Grove say they have just days to get out, after the property was recently condemned for sewage issues.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

City officials were working Wednesday afternoon to get residents relocated.

People who live in these apartments said they must get out by Saturday. Condemned notices have been placed on their doors.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

They say they were given a case number by the city and they’re supposed to call to find temporary housing.

Most of the people Action News Jax’s Meghan Moriarty tried to speak with were too embarrassed to go on camera but say these have been the living conditions for more than a month. There’s puddles of flooding at almost every entrance to the complex.

A city spokesperson said their social service teams along with strategic partners are working to find suitable living situations for these families.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The city has tried to contact the property owner and the manager of the private complex and has worked to provide solutions, but no resolution has been made.

Moriarty tried to speak to some of the city employees out at the complex on Wednesday, but she was told to contact the public affairs department.

They sent the following statement:

“The City of Jacksonville has been and continues to try to work with both the property owner and the manger of this private complex. Multiple attempts to provide solutions have been presented but a resolution to the problem as not been found at this time. The issues facing the property owner are private matters, however, we cannot allow these citizens to live in these conditions. At this time, the City of Jacksonville is intervening for the safety of the residents because this is a public health and safety issue. We are assisting in the relocation of residents and will provide ongoing assistance as needed. Our Social Services teams, along with our strategic partners, are working to find them suitable living conditions in other locations.”

—  Dr. Charles Moreland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Jacksonville

Continued Coverage at 11 p.m..: Crews were working for several hours in the area. One worker told Action News Jax it appeared to be a mixture between fresh water and sewage.

One resident who’s been there for nearly 16 years said it was shocking to hear they had just three days to pack up and move.

“We’re not in a position where you can get up and move overnight,” Derrick Shelby said.

Shelby told Action News Jax that it’s been an ongoing issue.

“It’s been about two months ago, and that’s when it backed up to my bathroom and overflowed into my kitchen living room everywhere. I had to clean it up for a couple days,” he said.

Other residents like Mina Bounty say they’re feeling lost.

“I’m mad, I’m sad, everything. I don’t even know where to start from here,” she said. “Pull up and cry, pretty much. I have three dogs, they’re like my kids.”

Sewage forcing dozens out of apartments

She said she tried calling a number on the notice to help with moving assistance, but said it kept ringing until it went to voicemail.

Action News Jax also received the following statement from JEA:

“On Oct. 20, JEA responded to a potential sewer-related issue reported by a customer near Blanchard Apartments. Once on site, a JEA technician determined it was not a sewer-related issue and discovered a broken private water line on the customer’s side of the service. JEA did not suspend service because the meter and service supplied water to six buildings.”

Action News Jax tried getting in contact with the complex but didn’t hear back

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.