North Lawn Apartments tenants go on rent strike amid unmet repair demands, ownership change

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.

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Residents at North Lawn Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri, are on a rent strike as they battle unresolved emergency conditions and navigate a recent ownership change at the property.

Tenants said they have dealt with extreme heat with no air conditioning or electricity, overgrown grass, flooded sewage and safety concerns.

The Kansas City Tenants Union, representing nearly 100% of tenants at the property, has given the new owner until 5 p.m. Friday to schedule a meeting or tenants said they will continue the strike.

On Wednesday, Shawn Johnson, of Vital20 LLC and Rubicon Realty LLC, posted notices at the property announcing his ownership of North Lawn Apartments. Johnson previously managed the properties through Rubicon Realty.

The ownership change is not yet reflected in property tax records.

KC Tenants said the sale comes after previous owner Yisroel Levovitz, who has owned the property since 2023, attempted to offload the properties amid mounting debt and an ongoing rent strike.

Three weeks ago, the city of Kansas City, Missouri, voted to use up to $500,000 to address issues at the property.

Residents said the same concerns remain unaddressed.

This week, under what the union describes as worsening conditions, tenants began coordinating their own repairs through the union.

The union has communicated a willingness to end the rent strike if Johnson signs a collectively bargained lease agreement.

Tenants have demanded rent caps, eviction protections and a timeline for permanent repairs. The union said tenants will not sign new leases until their demands are met.

In his notices to residents, Johnson said he will not collect August rent and no resident will be displaced or retaliated against for reporting conditions, organizing or participating in the rent strike.

In an email, Johnson said he is willing to meet with KC Tenants but pushed back on the union's approach.

"I have communicated to KC Tenants that I am willing to meet, and that remains true. I am open to a productive discussion about the property and resident concerns," Johnson said. "However, I do not believe starting with predetermined demands and deadlines is the most effective way to reach solutions."

Johnson also outlined his immediate priorities.

"My immediate focus is building conditions, direct communication with residents regarding unit issues and initiating stabilization and repairs," Johnson said.

The union has also requested updates from the city, including a plan for holding the new owner accountable for necessary repairs.

As of noon Thursday, KC Tenants said they have not heard back yet on their request for a meeting and a response by Friday.

A spokesperson with the City Manager's Office said Thursday officials plan to share more updates at Thursday's 1 p.m. business session.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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