As the deadline looms for residents to vacate Euclid Parkside Gardens, a condemned apartment complex in Euclid, tenants are still searching for answers. Officials have cited numerous violations against the property owners, leaving residents scrambling to relocate with little notice.
Personal belongings now litter the parking lot as tenants pack up their lives. “I’m packing, and I’m praying,” resident Monica Booker expressed, with frustration. Booker has lived in the complex for three years. She received her eviction notice just the day after she paid rent.
On the other hand, decades-long resident Catherine Doller, has decided to stay, despite warnings that the doors will be padlocked. “Well, even if I wasn’t willing to risk it, there’s no way I can get everything out,” she said.
On Tuesday, Booker, Doller, and other tenants received notices from the city stating that 26 of the 33 buildings at Euclid Parkside Gardens were condemned due to fire and building code violations. Notices reached the residents with only three days to vacate. “I’ve called the office, you know, begging, and I’ll even pay to get this damn fire system fixed,” Doller said.
In a statement, the City of Euclid addressed the situation, noting, “Currently, the complex of 303 units is approximately 20% occupied. We recognize the impact that this action will have on each of these families, and the City is actively working to provide support and relocation assistance to ensure a smooth transition to safer housing alternatives.”
Yet, just 24 hours before the deadline, many tenants say they still have no clear path forward. “It’s very terrible, and you all are not caring about your residents,” Doller said. Reporters attempted to reach out to City Hall for further clarification, but officials declined interviews.
Public records indicate that the owner of Parkside Gardens is affiliated with the Chetrit Group, a New York-based real estate firm that has faced foreclosures and tenant complaints across multiple states. In 2023, a federal judge in New York appointed a receiver, Chris Neilson of Trigild, to manage various financially distressed Chetrit-owned properties, including Parkside Gardens, according to court documents. Attempts to reach Neilson and Trigild for comment were unsuccessful.
Scott Kroehle, owner of Cleveland Housing Solutions, provides housing advocacy and tenant support. He criticized the short notice given to residents, “I don’t know all the details of the situation, but if you’re going to put 100-something families out of their housing, you should have something lined up for them.” Kroehle elaborated, “as far as finding decent, affordable housing, you know, at least on the west side of Cleveland, it can take months. I mean, it can take months of, you know, sifting through scummy listings on the various websites.”
As time runs out, Booker is determined to move on. “Give me back my rent and let me go do what I need to do, and hopefully y’all get this together, but I won’t be here when y’all get it together,” she said.
Doller, however, remains hopeful, arguing that her unit is still safe to reside in, even after all these years. “I want the city to be a little more reasonable. Like I said, supposedly everything passed inspection last year,” she said.