NewsLocal News

Actions

A/C back on at KC apartment building after tenant battle

They created a union to address complaints
gabriel tower
Posted at 4:24 PM, Jun 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-10 20:57:40-04

UPDATE, 5:25 p.m. | Building officials confirmed to 41 Action News that the air conditioning has been restored.

ORIGINAL STORY | Tenants at Gabriel Towers in Kansas City, Missouri, still are without air conditioning, despite being told it would be restored on Wednesday.

"They don't care, straight up they do not care,” said Dawn Ireland, who lives in the apartment complex. “If they cared about us, this would [have] never happened.”

Willa, who also lives in the building, said they aren’t able to sleep because of the situation.

"The kids are so tired from the heat. It's just wearing them out," Willa said.

For weeks, tenants have said the air has been a problem.

On Monday, the KCMO Health Department tweeted that the part that is needed to fix the unit would arrive on Wednesday to be fixed.

But, still nothing has happened.

"Just because we are on low income housing doesn't give them the right to treat us like they treat us," Ireland said.

The department tweeted to 41 Action News Reporter Jordan Betts "Our Healthy Homes team will be checking on the progress. Thankfully it's a milder day but the goal was to get the part & have it back in service by today or tomorrow."

Tenants took a list of demands to the property manager and the property’s corporate representative.

"Get everything fixed,” Ireland said. “A lot of us don't ask for that much. Why can't they not do it?”

Out of those demands, only two were not agreed upon – new management in the building and rent reimbursement for the past month without air conditioning.

Millenia, the company that owns the building, told tenants they would commit to these demands, ranging from a cleaner environment to functioning washers and dryers.

While people who live in building said that is great news, they are worried they are false promises.

"It doesn't take that long to get a part,” Ireland said. “They can set it up or whatever. Get in here. But, I don't think it's going to happen.”

Tenants said this fight is not over for them. James Stone, who has lived in the complex for several years, said they are not going to quit.

"We are not going to stop these protests until things start changing around here,” Stone said.

41 Action News reached out to Millenia for comment and has not heard back.