LH Press Library
Crime-ridden Apartments Sold
Dallas Morning News, by Sarah Post
March 14, 2004
Lake Highlands residents are hoping a new management company can clean up an apartment complex area they call a nightmare.
Dallas-based Trimark Realty Investments and Trimark Properties have purchased three apartment complexes on the southeast corner of Abrams Road and Forest Lane. The 26-acre parcel includes a small lake and is a gateway into the Lake Highlands neighborhood.
"This corner has been a nightmare for Lake Highlands," Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association president Terri Woods said Wednesday.
More than 450 crimes were reported last year in the apartments and surrounding area bounded by LBJ Freeway, Forest, Abrams and Whitehurst Drive, according to Dallas police records. There were two murders, four rapes, 36 robberies of individuals and 48 aggravated assaults.
Dallas filed a lawsuit against the previous owners in 2000 over their failure to stop crime.
The city's neighborhood nuisance abatement unit began investigating two of the complexes last September and October because crime had become a problem again.
Area homeowners and business leaders are saying they will work with the new ownership to help them turn the area around.
Ms. Woods said having a local firm managing the apartments is a positive step.
"We are thrilled," she said. "They plan to create a development that will be an asset."
The Forest Springs and Fall River apartments and Timberleaf Townhomes will become Trimark Landing I and II and Trimark Townhomes. The 594-unit community will undergo more than $3 million in interior and exterior renovations, Trimark officials said Thursday. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Trimark rehabilitates properties that are not as profitable as forecasters believe they could be. The company has rehabilitated more than 21 multifamily properties, spending more than $50 million. This project is expected to be a "benchmark" property for Dallas, company officials said.
The company has filed for 68 evictions for nonpayment of rent and expects to file more eviction notices for other violations.
Trimark marketing director Donna Ismajili said the new ownership has instituted a zero-tolerance policy for trespassers and has had prostitiutes and other trespassers arrested.
"So far we've had cooperation from the police," Ms. Ismajili said "We're working with them and the neighborhood to get the area cleaned up."
She said Trimark wants to market to professionals working in the nearby medical and technology facilities and in downtown Dallas.
She said the renovations would include adding new business offices, a gym and a children's center.
The properties also will become gated. Work will still be under way when Trimark holds a grand opening in late May, officials said.
Dallas' District 10 City Council member Bill Blaydes said he is eager to see the company's rehabilitation plans but is skeptical.
"I'll believe the changes when I see them," he said. "When I'm dealing with multifamily in this area, I'm always skeptical."
Mr. Blaydes is a commercial real estate broker who spent seven years on the Dallas Planning and Zoning Commission. He promised to increase apartment inspections and hold managers accountable for their properties when he campaigned for the District 10 seat last spring.
Dallas' neighborhood nuisance response unit has visited the property that Trimark just purchased twice in the last seven months.
The unit is a group of police officers, code and fire inspectors and city attorneys. It goes into areas with repeated prostitution and narcotics arrests, robberies, gunfire reports and gang activity to work with owners to fix problems.
Lt. Jan Easterling, a member of the unit, said the apartments were the scene of a lot of robberies, narcotics use and sales, and building and fire code violations.
"We're hoping they [the new owners] will help abate the crime and code problems out there and make the needed improvements," she said. "We're not done out there. Just because they sold the property doesn't mean we'll just wait and see."
She said her unit is scheduled to meet with the new owners next week.
Ms. Ismajili said Trimark officials take the challenge seriously. In addition to their efforts to increase security, they plan to start programs for the residents, including tutoring.
"We're real excited about the improvements to the community," she said.
Reprinted with permission of The Dallas Morning News.
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