Independence apartment complex misses deadline set by tenants union to answer for issues

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - Even though they’re still expected to pay rent, many of the residents at Independence Towers are having to spend more time outside their homes because the building’s had no air conditioning this entire summer. That’s beginning to take a toll on their health.

Elliot West hoped to learn more about what would change at her apartment. But she hasn’t heard anything from managers, despite a union demand for answers about AC improvements in her unit.

“Ours currently only keeps our apartment down to 85 degrees,” West said. “And it does not keep up with the heat. It’s hell and torture.”

READ MORE: Renters of Independence apartments confront property management about poor conditions

Most of the tenants at Independence Towers have nowhere to escape the 90+ degree temperatures outside. It’s so hot inside they can’t get any rest.

“I slept for like two hours last night because of how hot it is up there,” Stephen Brandon expressed. “My kids are constantly just in their diapers because of how hot it is up there.”

For more than a month, Trigild Inc. has been the temporary property manager. Last Thursday, they promised tenants in a meeting the main AC system would be fixed, and everyone would receive their own window unit. That’s the last time renters say they’ve heard anything about the problem.

“There’s like no hope here for anybody,” Brandon said. “They don’t really promise or commit to anything they say they’re going to do. You hear something may happen; something may not happen.”

“We shouldn’t be being told, ‘Oh, we’re working on it. Oh, we’ll fix it,’ and then we don’t get it,” West complained. “The only thing they have told us is they have ordered window units for everybody, but they don’t know when they’re coming in and they don’t know when they’ll be installed.”

The City of Independence also called out Trigild in a letter stating “the lack of functioning air conditioning is a violation of the City’s Property Maintenance Code” because building owners are responsible for maintaining cooling, heating, plumbing, and electricity.

However, according to the City of Independence, FTW Investments still owns the building while Trigild Inc. is just the property receiver for the time being. So, code violations cannot be forced against them.

READ MORE: Independence apartment arson is only one issue residents say they’ve had to deal with

The City’s Sermon Center has been offered as a cooling center for Independence Towers residents to come cool off in the meantime. First Transit is also providing a cooling bus at the Transit Center. For now, the tenants union has created their own wellness check system to ensure no one overheats.

“We go to their door and make sure they’re OK because that’s what we have to do,” West said. “To make sure our fellow neighbors aren’t dead and still alive and not suffering from any health conditions.”

Renters in Independence Towers are not sure when they’ll hold another meeting with the Management of Trigild Inc. KCTV reached out to Trigild leaders for comment on what their plans are for moving the building forward, but did not hear back prior to the publication of this story.

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