The owners of a North Texas apartment complex are offering to help tenants relocate after a court order required all residents to leave the property by Nov. 4 due to unsafe and uninhabitable conditions.
The City of Plano sought a temporary restraining order against the owners of Evana Grove Apartments on Hillridge Drive following repeated code violations and complaints from tenants. A Collin County District Court granted the order, forcing all residents to vacate.
In a statement to NBC 5, a spokesperson for Evana Grove Apartments, managed by Lurin Real Estate, said tenants in good standing may transfer to one of four affiliated apartment communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company is offering reduced rent and waiving deposits for those who qualify.
“Residents in good standing who choose to move to one of these communities will not have to provide a deposit and will receive half off their first month’s rent,” the statement read. “For all vacating residents, we will help with moving costs. We are currently sourcing local movers who can be on standby to assist.”
Many residents say they were caught off guard by the sudden move-out order. John Leeroy, who moved into the complex just weeks ago, said his family has been relying on rainwater for basic needs.
“Before they turned it off, we were able to fill up the trash can,” Leeroy said. “And my son, when it rained, he filled up another trash can with rainwater and that’s what we’ve been using for the last week.”
Leeroy added that he’s only had one warm shower since moving in.
The city said it has long documented problems at Evana Grove, including a lack of basic utilities like water, gas and sewer services. Officials estimate around 200 people may be displaced by the eviction order.
“Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone in our community,” the City of Plano said in a statement. “The conditions at Evana Grove are unsafe and unsanitary.”
Stuart Campbell, chief legal officer for the Dallas Conviction Advocacy Center, said the move by the city, while justified, could leave residents in a vulnerable position.
“This is all rolling downhill for them,” Campbell said. “The city is trying to do the right thing. The landlord obviously has been caught red-handed not maintaining the property the correct way.”
He added that cities should build relocation plans with nonprofits and local churches in advance of such actions.
“That really needs to be the groundwork that’s already done before an injunction like this is sought,” he said.
City officials said their Neighborhood Services team began contacting residents before the water shutoff and will continue working to connect people with resources and housing options.
NBC 5 has contacted Lurin Real Estate for further comment.
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