DEANA STROISCH,THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER,Posted Aug 31, 2011
The owner of one of Springfield’s largest apartment complexes has complied with the city’s demands so far, registering seven of its buildings and applying for and receiving permits to fix dozens of alleged building code violations.
The city has scheduled a follow-up inspection of those seven buildings in the MacArthur Park Apartments, 2715 S. MacArthur Blvd., for mid-September, said John Sadowski, the city’s building department manager. Springfield attorney Don Craven, who was hired by the complex in late July to assist attorney Michael Durr, said he and Durr visited the property recently. Craven said work is under way at the buildings. New plumbing, floorboards and insulation are being installed, he said. Craven said he and Durr also have been in touch with city attorney Mark Cullen and can provide a plan to renovate buildings on the property.
After originally being denied access by the owners, city inspectors executed a search warrant Aug. 5 that allowed them to inspect the seven buildings. Each has four units, but the apartments were mostly vacant. Inspectors found dozens of electrical, mechanical, plumbing and housing violations, ranging from missing windows and deadbolts to exposed wiring and units full of rubbish and without water. The seven buildings were placarded and declared “unsafe and dangerous.”
The city gave the owner of the 188-unit complex, Granite Investment Co., which is based in Granite City, seven days to obtain permits to fix the violations and 10 days to register each of the seven vacant buildings. Sadowski said the owner did register the buildings and has received mechanical, plumbing, electrical and building permits for each building.
Granite City owner
In April 2008, Granite Investment Co.’s general partner, James C. Green, took out an $8 million loan on the property, which is valued at about half that, according to Sangamon County property records. The mortgage, which was approved by Reliance Bank of Frontenac, Mo., becomes due on April 21, 2014, according to the filing. “Where did that money go? Was any of it ever invested back into the apartments?” Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin asked.
McMenamin called it “disturbing” that the MacArthur Park Apartments advertise aggressively for new tenants in The State Journal-Register. “It is premature to market when there are so many problems there,” the alderman said.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 