City Steps In to Fix Unsafe Apartments | Topeka News

Kansas City council just voted to step in and fix a crumbling apartment complex in Northeast, where tenants are living in life-threatening conditions—no heat, no power, sewage flooding basements, and pests running wild. Using Housing Trust Fund money, the city will make emergency repairs costing up to $500K and place a lien on the property to ensure the landlord pays back. This isn’t the first time the city had this power—it’s just been unused. Councilman Johnathan Duncan emphasized that the city can force repairs, evictions, and charge owners, with the lien transferring to any future buyer. Tenants have endured weeks without utilities, raw sewage, and infestations, with one calling it “living on the street.” Organizers have fought for these families for three years after the current owner promised renovations that never came. Four families are still displaced from a six-week power outage, and nine others lost utilities recently. Beyond this building, the council is launching a citywide task force to unify departments like planning, fire, and health to prevent future crises and hold landlords accountable before tragedies unfold. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/801879bfee775cfb