Evicted Hargrove Street apartment renters speak out on living conditions

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — On Hargrove Street in Beckley, former residents of an apartment complex were out on the street with their possessions on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Others were still carrying their belongings from the apartment complex, formerly owned by Rose Enterprises in Beaver, according to Raleigh County Tax Office records.

Residents said their former landlord recently evicted them from the 21-unit apartment after recently selling it, ordering them to be out by Monday, July 1, 2024.

“There’s a new owner, and he’s the man who give us the time to get what little bit of stuff we can get, because this is all the stuff that we have to our name,” said Diana Plumley, a six-year resident.

Beckley Mayor Ryan Neal spoke to residents on Wednesday. Prior to visiting the complex, Mayor Neal said on Wednesday that he and at-large Beckley Common Councilman Cody Reedy had toured the complex in June shortly after an investor had purchased the complex.

“It was just a sad situation,” said Mayor Neal. “I understand these people are being evicted, but they shouldn’t be living in that kind of conditions anyway. It was as bad as bad can get.”

Tax records show Rose Enterprises LLC had purchased the property in 2016 for $525,000, before reportedly selling it to investors in 2024 and evicting residents.

An unpleasant odor was on the belongings of those residents who were gathered on the street.
Inside a ground unit which had reportedly been occupied until the previous day, the stench was overwhelming.

Two residents said they had paid $700 and $650 monthly to Rose Enterprises for rent, respectively.

“It’s horrible. There’s roaches everywhere. There’s no maintenance,” said Plumley. “There’s no bug spray, no kind of maintenance, no kind of care, whatsoever. You seen this [landlord] just to get money and that was it.”

Plumley said some of residents had been federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) clients.

Councilman Reedy said he was investigating the claim.

“I should be able to have some answers Monday,” Councilman Reedy said, prior to the Fourth of July holiday.

Reedy said that he had spoken with a board member of Beckley Housing Authority on Wednesday but did not yet have an official answer.

“They told me they would get a for-sure answer Monday, but they do not believe [the complex] was HUD-approved,” added Reedy.

The mayor said that he had spoken with residents on Wednesday to find out their housing options, and he added that housing was available at the Raleigh County Emergency Housing Center for those who did not have a place to stay.

Mayor Neal said the new owners had plans to rehabilitate the property and to turn it into private and student housing, which will be a benefit to those seeking local housing options.

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