Dozens of residents at the Northern Village apartment complex in north St. Louis County were ordered to vacate this week after county inspectors condemned several units as unsafe. Tenants reported ongoing utility outages, cold indoor temperatures, and unresolved maintenance issues, leaving families seeking temporary housing amid continued winter conditions.
County Steps In With Condemnations And Vouchers
St. Louis County confirmed that eight units were condemned last week and four additional units were condemned this week due to unsafe living conditions, including the lack of heat and hot water, according to First Alert 4. The county ordered affected tenants to vacate and is offering rapid re-housing vouchers to assist residents in securing temporary housing while they search for permanent accommodations.
Tenants Say Problems Dragged On For Months
Several tenants told reporters that the problems had been ongoing well before the condemnations. Resident Ciara Fleming said she went about a month and a half without running water and had not had heat or hot water since December. She also reported that a code enforcement officer advised her to find new housing and move as soon as possible.
Owner Cites Big Repair Bills As Records Show Long Trail Of Complaints
The apartment complex was sold in 2024 to an ownership group operating as Mazal in St. Louis LLC. An executive told local television stations that the company has invested in repairs to the property’s water and heating systems. According to reporting by Yahoo, the owner said significant funds were spent addressing the issues. Public records and consumer reports show a history of complaints, and the Better Business Bureau profile for Northern Village lists dozens of grievances. The BBB also notes that mail sent to the business in late January was returned as undeliverable after the business was listed as moved.
Scrambling For Somewhere To Go
Residents reported being caught off guard by the condemnations and are working to manage the financial and logistical challenges of finding new housing on short notice. St. Louis County’s coordinated homelessness and housing system offers emergency and rapid re-housing programs, and local nonprofits, including YWCA Metro St. Louis, provide housing assistance and crisis services for residents seeking temporary shelter or help locating a new apartment.
