Orange Mound apartment tenants call on city leaders for help

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tenants at Cherokee Square Apartments on Filmore Avenue say they are fed up after dealing with no air conditioning, mold and collapsing ceilings.

Now, they are demanding the owner and city council to help them.

One tenant has been living at Cherokee Square Apartments since 2014 and says she does not think her apartment building is up to code.

“They can do better because this stuff here looks a mess. We have mold and mildew and at the top is that brown stuff,” she said. “Fix my window. I‘ve been waiting a long time to get it fixed. Come inside the house and fix the top ceilings so we can cut our lights on. This one caught on fire down here. It’s been boarded up but they need to be fixed.”

The stairs are also collapsing and there are no security lights.

“These lights outside of this building have been off for a whole month,” the tenant said. “Paint the rust, that’s chemicals and fix the apartments. The apartments are not that hard to fix up.”

She says she does not feel safe and wants the city leaders to step in.

City Councilwoman Jana Swearengen–Washington released a statement regarding the issues.

“The entire complex is served by a master water meter, with the bill paid by the landlord,” she said. “Unfortunately, due to non-payment, the complex is facing a potential disconnection of water services on July 9, 2024.”

In addition, Councilwoman Swearengen-Washington is actively working with Code Enforcement and the Health Department to address and improve the deplorable living conditions at the property complex.

WREG has reached out to Councilwoman Swearengen–Washington to see when tenants can expect some relief. We are still waiting to hear back.

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