Despite payment plan, Evansville officials still want to question Woodland Park owners

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — CenterPoint Energy said it has reached a payment agreement with Woodland Park Apartments after it threatened to shut off utilities to the troubled complex.

But for Evansville City Councilman Alex Burton, that doesn’t change anything: he and other officials still want to question Woodland’s owners.

“I’m even more interested in talking to them now,” he said Wednesday morning. “This is an ongoing issue. They’ve made the agreement, but there has yet to have been a payment made. This could just be more theatrics on their end.”

More:Evansville City council votes to use subpoena power to address Woodland Park issues

More:Here's why it's so tough to find the owners of the troubled Woodland Park Apartments

Woodland, located at 2340 Sunburst Blvd. on Evansville’s South Side, has overdue bills on its electricity and gas bills dating back two years. In a prepared statement released Tuesday night, CenterPoint said it “has been in contact with Woodland Park management. … Once the agreed-upon funds have been received, the status of the account will be updated.”

The Evansville City Council unanimously passed a resolution last week to subpoena Richel Francis, the registered agent for Woodland Park Holdings LLC, an ambiguous limited liability company that owns the complex.

Francis, who is listed as the registered agent for multiple LLCs across the country, is supposed to appear before council on Monday, along with any other member of the ownership group. The council is also slated to hear from the building commission, which will provide a list of the complex’s code violations over the last three years.

As of Wednesday, Francis hadn’t contacted anyone on the council, Burton said. But a public relations firm apparently representing the LLC had reached out.

“If they show up, great. If not, I can’t say I’d be surprised,” he said. “This is a little ridiculous. If this is how they’re acting with local leaders and officials, I would hate to see how they interact with their tenants.”

Apartments in poor condition

The complex also owes the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility about $95,000. That was reduced from $139,000 after management agreed to a payment plan in March.

But utility payments, which are supposed to be included in tenants’ rent, aren’t the only concern.

More:Woodland Park promises to pay its utility bill, but some tenants are just trying to move

From 2020:Online petition calls for accountability from Evansville landlord, city leaders

Woodland's ownership entity has been under fire from numerous local government officials for the apartment complex’s poor condition. A resolution filed by Burton cataloged reports of mold, crime, water damage and bodily fluids strewn throughout common areas.

One former resident told the Courier & Press one of her windows remained broken for almost three years before maintenance finally fixed it. Woodland Park property manager Samira Gallais denied that allegation.

Burton and several other local officials have spoken with residents over the past few weeks. Knight Township trustee Kathryn Martin has even worked to relocate some of them.

For those who find new homes, it could mean a reduction in rent.

“More than 80 percent of the residents out there are paying $800 a month,” Burton said. “To put it in real terms, they’re paying more than I pay on my mortgage.”