Conditions at The Porter apartments continue to worsen

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A letter dated July 1st announced Redwood Communities would be taking over management of The Porter immediately. Since the notice, the people who live here tell 6 News they feel abandoned.

Some of their concerns include a lack of security, with random people entering the building and even sleeping in common areas. Now, the trash is piling up and when they call, no one answers.

“It goes back to the old management,” said Ashley Spence, a home healthcare worker who helps a few residents of The Porter. “So, it just rings and rings. There’s nobody for anybody to contact.”

A written statement from Redwood Housing Inc. last week claims they’ve had staff at the property, but the people 6 News spoke with say that’s not true.

According to Redwood Housing, the new manager of The Porter was meant to start Monday. However, when 6 News went to the property around 10:55 am, the office was still locked, dark, and empty, despite a letter on the window that said office hours start at 10:00 am.

That is, until 6 News was notified that two women had shown up and went into the office around 11:40 am. When we tried to speak with the women, they said they were not management.

Because of the lack of response and help from management, some people took it upon themselves to remove trash they say blocked an elevator.

“I pushed the door open, I barely could slip through it,” said Silas Nichols, who lives in the building. “I almost couldn’t, it was so piled up in there…a couple people sitting right here saw a rat right here in the hallway.”

Residents say they saw it as a hazard, as emergency services often use that elevator to get to elderly residents who may need help.

Last week, people who live in the apartments told 6 News they are unable to use the washing machines and dryers because the money compartments are full. Additionally, they would usually get the required coins from the front office, which they say has been unattended.

Spence says, if anything, things have gotten worse in the last week.

“It’s to the point now where there’s people knowing that there’s no management here now,” continued Spence. “They’re kicking the doors and holding the doors open.”

The feces in the first-floor bathroom is still there from the last time our 6 News team visited, along with a new substance that seems to be blood.

6 News made attempts in person, by phone, and by email to reach Redwood Housing, but they have not responded since that written statement last Friday.

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