Frustrated tenants from The Cooper stage peaceful protest against management
Tenants impacted by The Cooper fire on June 23 came together Monday evening to protest what they call a lack of accountability and support from Cushman and Wakefield, the company that manages the apartment complex.
Residents of this Near Southside neighborhood gathered at the Down N Out bar near The Cooper to make protest signs and share their frustrations.
About 10 residents initially arrived at The Cooper, where they exchanged words with security guards, who the residents said were laughing at them..
Residents carrying signs chanted “we deserve answers” inside the garage by the elevator entrance.
Security called police and more than a dozen Fort Worth officers arrived at the apartment complex within in a few minutes.
The responding officers entered the garage and spoke with the tenants, who expressed their frustration at the lack of answers from the management company and owners. The tenants said that they would not leave until they could get an answer.
The officers spoke multiple times with the tenants and said they could not get in contact with anyone from The Cooper.
Police said that they are trying to work with the residents to help get them information and took their contact information.
The fire displaced more than 800 residents from their homes.
The tenants were expecting a mass email from the management company about when they would be released from their leases and for those in units that were safe to enter, when they could move their things out.
Residents said they did not hear from the management company or the owner of the complex, Lightbulb Capital Group, nor did they receive any emails about the next steps.
A parent of one of the residents who wanted to only use her first name, Susanna, said that her son had just moved to The Cooper six days before the fire. She said they didn’t know what to do — leave and come back to move his things to his new apartment or keep waiting.
Many residents have reached out for legal counsel about their rights and how to be compensated for the damage to their property and pain and suffering they’ve endured.
“They’re not answering at all. They’re not picking up the phone when they (the police) call,” tenant Lauren Garcia said.
Tenant Hayley Schmolze said they are still looking for answers.
“They say different things to different people,” she said. “So, it’s hard to believe what they’re saying, and a lot of times they don’t even reply to emails, phone calls, texts.”
Schmolze said that lack of transparency has added to the emotional and financial stress that she and other tenants are experiencing.
“We just want them to be held accountable for the miscommunication, lack of communication, and just that our stuff isn’t being taken care of. We can’t trust them,” Schmolze said.
Some tenants have reported that unidentified men have been entering their apartments, at odd hours.
Through Ring camera footage, they have been monitoring the activities inside and outside their apartment, prompting some tenants to file police reports.
Amy Vo, a tenant in building 2, said that she and other tenants don’t feel safe knowing that workers are entering the units and altering the locks after hours.
“We are very concerned about our unit and our belongings,” Vo said. “The situation is already scary and stressful, and the teenagers who are hired as security guards laughing and arguing with us about securing the place is not helping.”
Vo said that residents want to know if it’s safe enough for security and construction workers to enter their apartment, why isn’t it safe enough for residents to move out?
“They wouldn’t even provide me a contact for who their supervisor is. Where is the trust? It was burned with the fire,” Vo said.
This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM.