KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Home is a place meant to feel good, and Amanda Redelk's home is at the Summit Towers.
Redelk and several residents told WBIR that the living conditions at this apartment complex have been unhealthy. People who live there are over 62 years old, and some may have disabilities.
We've reported previous issues that impacted residents there over the past two years, including elevators breaking on several occasions and water issues that lasted for weeks.
"Right now it's real depressing, the only joy that I get out of it is that I'm close to downtown, I'm close to my pharmacy and library," Redelk said. "We're overwhelmed with mice we're overwhelmed with bedbugs...we've got leaks all over the building. There's hardly any floor that you can go down that I don't well through water."
Redelk said things were different 15 years ago when a different company owned the building.
"It was really clean," Redelk said. "If you had a problem they had maintenance come and fix it."
Documents from the city of Knoxville showed complaints about water damage, problems with the floors, pests, tiles coming up, elevators not working, water overflowing and much more.
Officials from the city of Knoxville told WBIR all these violations were corrected.
Summit Towers leaders sent this statement:
The Summit Towers management team is committed to providing its residents with safe, decent, and sanitary housing. As maintenance issues arise and are reported, they are addressed promptly, with emergency repairs being addressed within 24 hours. The property retains pest control services for ongoing treatment and to address any reports of bed bugs. The property has a committed maintenance team in place, including support from technicians at sister properties, and new maintenance staff will be starting at the property this week. While repair issues do arise, all elevators are in working order with no code issues and there have been no recent disruptions to utilities nor reports of mold. The property is currently for sale and during this process, the management team remains committed to the needs of its residents.
Vivian Shipe, a community activist, disagreed.
"There's nothing being done about it... not on a level that you can see change," Shipe said. "It's like putting a Band-Aid on a hole in a dam. That's what you're doing, and that's not enough."
Redelk said she worked her whole life, and while she's grateful for a roof over her head, this is not what 'home' is all about.
"I worked and this is what I get for my golden years, I guess," Redelk said. "But it's not safe. It's not sanitary. It's not clean. I wish you could take the camera in and just see you wouldn't believe it."