Residents of Granada Gardens in Warrensville Heights are voicing frustration over worsening living conditions, sharing images and videos depicting black mold, overflowing dumpsters, and trash piling up in hallways.
“I got pictures of everything,” said tenant Gladys Jackson. “My water broke in my apartment in December, 13 months ago, and they had to tear all my floor out. But they ain’t never, my carpets; I ain’t never lived like this. My carpets are a mess.”
The growing concerns have sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency. “We’d like to see everything fixed and we’d like to see management be held accountable,” said Thomas Bricker, vice president of the Granada Gardens Tenants Association.
On Tuesday, residents once again raised their concerns, continuing a battle they say has been ongoing. In November 2023, an investigation revealed issues including a rodent infestation, water leaks, and squatters occupying common areas. Tenants took their protest to Warrensville Heights City Hall, prompting management to pledge a $5 million investment toward improvements.
However, some residents claim conditions are once again declining, particularly following a recent court decision reinstating the previous landlord. “Since the old company took back over again, there’s just no work that’s being executed,” said tenant Louis Brownlowe.
Efforts to contact the apartment’s management for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to the front desk and leasing office went unanswered. An online search for Granada Apartments LTD also yielded no immediate response.
Meanwhile, Senior Attorney Catherine Donnelly said legal avenues are being explored to support the tenants’ advocacy efforts. “Not every solution is going to be a legal solution, but we’ve been trying to come up with legal solutions to support their advocacy for improving the conditions,” Donnelly said.
In response to media inquiries, the leasing office sent an email confirming that the message had been forwarded to a leasing professional, with a response expected soon.