JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After receiving complaints about the living conditions at the Cascades Apartments near EWU, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan decided to personally inspect the situation.
Jacksonville City Councilmember Ju’Coby Pittman accompanied her to meet with the management and residents to discuss their concerns.
One of the residents, Bridgette Waters, expressed her frustration with the dire state of the apartments. She mentioned issues such as rats, roaches, holes in the walls, unstable stairways, lack of lighting, ankle-deep flooding, and mold problems.
The mold problem specifically caught Mayor Deegan’s attention and prompted her visit. She acknowledged that while the place may not be a luxurious five-star hotel, residents have a reasonable expectation for clean and habitable living conditions.
During her visit, Mayor Deegan had a conversation with the management to understand the efforts being made to address the property’s issues.
She emphasized that affordable housing units should still meet a minimum standard of livability and expressed concern about people having to endure unhealthy living conditions.
Some residents expressed their worries that if the problems are fixed, rent might increase, leaving them homeless.
Mayor Deegan took these concerns seriously and discussed the matter with the property manager, who assured her that rent increases would not be a consequence of addressing the issues.
Mayor Deegan plans to follow up with the management in the upcoming week to ascertain the repair plans and improvements being implemented.
