Mold and broken appliances are not the kind of amenities Prairie Township residents at Alpine Village Apartments expected to be dealing with, but that is exactly what some tenants say they have been living with. Township officials now say a contracted building inspector and the township fire marshal will head to the complex after residents reported visible mold and long-delayed or half-finished maintenance. One tenant told local television that crews were finally replacing her bathroom ceiling, while Township Administrator James Jewell said his office only learned about the situation after the station started asking questions and then began coordinating next steps.
According to CW Columbus, resident Brenda Penny called ABC6's tipline and reported mold inside her unit, prompting the station to find other tenants with similar complaints. The outlet reports that a maintenance crew began tearing out and replacing Penny's bathroom ceiling on Tuesday, although managers told the station the job could take several days to complete.
Prairie Township's official website lists James Jewell as township administrator and provides a main phone line for residents to report problems. Jewell told CW Columbus, "When I saw the mold pictures, I was reaching out to our zoning department, and we were talking about next steps." Township officials said they have contacted Franklin County Public Health and emphasized that responsibility for making repairs ultimately lies with the property owner.
Who Manages Alpine Village
Alpine Village appears on Evergreen Realty's roster of properties, where the company lists an emergency maintenance phone number and markets several apartment communities across Central Ohio. Evergreen's public pages show Alpine Village among the communities it operates, which means the management company is the first stop for tenants who need repairs or want to submit maintenance requests. Evergreen also publishes general contact details and emergency numbers for residents.
Tenant Rights and Where to Report
Under Ohio law, landlords must keep rental units in a "fit and habitable condition" and make necessary repairs in a reasonable time. Those basic duties are spelled out in Ohio Revised Code §5321.04, while tenant remedies, including enforcement options and rent-escrow procedures, are detailed in §5321.07. Franklin County Public Health accepts nuisance and housing complaints and posts step-by-step instructions and contact information for residents who want to file. On its site, Franklin County Public Health explains how to register a public-health nuisance.
What Comes Next
Township officials say inspectors and the fire marshal will assess conditions at Alpine Village, then work with the property owner on what repairs are needed. Residents dealing with urgent maintenance or potential health hazards can call Prairie Township administration at 614-878-3317 or Franklin County Public Health at (614) 525-3160 to report concerns or ask about possible next steps.
Tenants are encouraged to document problems carefully: send written repair requests, take photos or videos of any damage, and keep copies of emails, letters, or text messages. Those records can be important if renters decide to pursue remedies under state law. This story will be updated when Prairie Township and Franklin County Public Health complete their inspections and release their findings.
