Owner of Hurst apartments with code violations hasn’t paid fines, officials say
The owner of the Dakota Place apartment complex with over 750 health and safety code violations owes almost $100,000 in outstanding fees and fines for failing to comply with the city’s orders to repair the buildings, Hurst officials said.
The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to continue levying fines against Charles Mercer, the owner of the Dakota Place. The issue will come up again at the May 26 meeting, and officials said if Mercer makes the repairs, the fines would be rescinded.
When asked about the fines and why he had not made the repairs that he was repeatedly ordered to complete, Mercer said, “We are in litigation.”
Mercer said he filed a lawsuit against Hurst about three weeks ago alleging that the city was providing false information such as stating there were 750 code violations and that he was told to repair a roof that does not leak.
But Hurst officials said Mercer has failed to comply with repeated requests to repair the roofs on the four buildings and fix other problems such as insects, rodents, raw sewage, and faulty wiring beginning in 2016.
City attorney Matthew Boyle said in an email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the suit was filed on March 11 and called it “procedurally defective and legally and factually baseless.”
“It is unfathomable how and why the owners of the Dakota can continue to ignore their obligations when their own engineer confirms that the necessary repairs to the complex have not been completed,” Boyle said.
According to information presented during a public hearing Tuesday night, Mercer owes $84,000 in fines and over $10,000 in fees. Boyle said there are liens on the property at 450 E. Hurst Blvd.
During the hearing, Boyle pointed out that Mercer got a permit to repair the roof at one building, but still has not obtained permits for the repairs at the three buildings in the complex.
There are also structural issues, such as unsafe stairways, Boyle said.
After the hearing, mayor pro tem Larry Kitchens said that “this has been going on since 2016, a full four years that the city has been trying to work with the owner to bring the buildings up to code and address health and safety issues. There has been no response from the owner to work with the city and benefit the residents.”