Residents of Aurora apartments at the center of Venezuela’s gang dispute are begging to stay in their homes

AURORA | Residents of a dilapidated apartment complex northwest of Aurora fear being evicted from their apartments as the fall weather cools.

“We’re going to start snowing, it’s going to snow here and it’s going to be cold,” said V Reeves, spokesperson for Housekeys Action Network Denver, translating for resident Moises Dinote. “Are you going to throw all of these families with children out onto the streets?”

1357 Helena St. The Whispering Pines Apartments at has been the center of controversy over the past few months due to controversial claims that the building was overrun by Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Most of the residents are Venezuelan immigrants.

Police have repeatedly denied this but said the presence of gang members and other criminal forces had a significant impact on the complexes.

CBZ Management, the property management company that operates the Whispering Pines location and the Edge at Lowry, 1218 Dallas St., claims it neglected both properties because it was deprived of them by the TdA.

The controversy in the area created a firestorm across the country, culminating in presidential candidate Donald Trump insisting on false claims that all of Aurora had been taken over by TdA gangs.

While residents of Whispering Pines have not received any official notice from the City of Aurora or the property management company that they will be evicted or that the property will be condemned, they fear the news is coming soon.

Denver Post They reported receiving a letter on Thursday – The letter written to property owners by Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain states that the Edge at Lowry and 200 nearby Columbia apartments will be evacuated soon unless the owners take immediate action. It is under threat of eviction due to uninhabitable conditions and crimes that threaten the public health and safety of the complex.

The subject of Whispering Pines is not mentioned in the letter, but residents fear their complexes may also be targeted for closure.

“What we know at this point is that the city inspected and issued summonses last week and there is a possibility of condemnation in the near future,” Reeves said.

City officials said repeated attempts to work with the complex’s owners were ignored.

“We wholeheartedly understand and share the frustrations expressed by Whispering Pines tenants,” city officials said in a statement. “We are still trying to get property owners and managers to address the multitude of problems at apartment complexes, including Whispering Pines. We are using every tool available under state and municipal law to hold property owners and managers accountable, including actions that have not yet been made public.” “Property owners continue to rebuff the city’s efforts or completely ignore the city’s offers of assistance.”

Many residents said they were willing to work on repairs and cleanup of the building to help the city and the property management company. Many residents have skills and worker permits that can help, Dinote said.

The city can only intervene so much. Residents said this week that the city began sending garbage collectors every ten days because no garbage service was picking up trash.

Neighborhood residents said that they were charged for services such as water and garbage, but they could not receive these services regularly. Two weeks ago, the water was cut off in one of the buildings and they had to report to the municipality to have the water turned back on.

Brendan Greene, co-founder and CEO of East Colfax Community Collected, said not only was the water shut off in one building, but some residences and the basement of one of the buildings also had sewer flooding or black water.

Residents say they fear racist and anti-immigrant reprisals over the altercation. They feel safe in their apartments but fear community reaction when they are out in public and possibly looking for new housing. Local resident Jeraldyne Maza said she has faced discrimination and fears for her safety in the community.

Although residents still own 1568 Nome St., which is owned by the same property management company. While there are concerns that the building, like the apartment complex, will be condemned and closed, the city can only act as quickly as legally allowed.

Residents of the Whispering Pine Apartment complex say they want to be involved and be allowed to stay in their homes.

“What they want is cooperation with the city,” Reeves said. “They’re asking for time. They’re asking for support. They’re not going to be able to move in time and they’re not going to be able to move in safely with their families, and they’re saying they’re very willing, they’re willing to take care of their home, they’re willing to maintain the conditions and they’re willing to do what they need to do in the absence of the landlord and the city to abandon their responsibilities.”

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