JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As a list of code violations found during two days of inspections of the Eureka Gardens apartments was released Friday, the owner of the troubled complex responds after a week of requests for comment.
On Friday, the city of Jacksonville provided 415 pages of violations that it mailed to the owner's Tennessee offices on Tuesday. Each citation appears to be sent certified mail, so it's possible his office received 163 certified-mail notices, one for each unit where a violation was found. Many of those units had multiple code violations.
The notices for some of those violations, including a deteriorating staircase, require them to be fixed within 15 days. The owner was given 30 days from the day of the mailing for most other repairs to be made.
In emailed responses, the Rev. Richard Hamlet with Global Ministries Foundation, wrote: "These properties are older housing units and located in communities within Jacksonville in need of community revitalization. Our business plan in purchasing these properties was and is, to improve these properties and provide safe, decent and sanitary housing."
News4Jax asked for specific examples of what improvements he'd made since buying six low-income housing properties in Jacksonville three years ago. We also asked if there was a long-term plan for improvements, and what we can expect to see, and when.
Hamlet also said, "We have invested our private capital in these properties in order to make a difference in the lives of these residents, with a sustainable business plan to improve and enhance these units and provide comprehensive social supportive services for our residents, at no charge to them."
We asked for specific examples and for any success stories he has with concrete examples. We also asked that he share his private/public business model with us so we can better understand where millions in federal tax money is going. He did not respond to those questions.
In regards to the city code inspections, Hamlet said he had not received or reviewed the inspection reports, but he assured us his management company is working hard to correct any observed deficiencies in the units.
Rev. Hamlet said he will come to Jacksonville in late October after returning from an overseas trip and plans to answer questions in person.
News4Jax confirmed late Friday afternoon with Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland that Hamlet's LLC is a registered nonprofit, which means all the real estate it owns is exempt from paying property taxes. Based on records at the property appraiser's office, there appears to be more than $270,000 in property taxes that Hamlet's company is exempt from paying annually.