Blind Spots in Code Compliance Leave Complex Residents Vulnerable to Poorer Living Standards

Dallas housing complexes and apartments are often inaccessible to code compliance officers, allowing residential companies to circumvent responsibilities in maintaining city code. One complex resident’s peaceful enjoyment is actively threatened by poor trash management and illegal towing. Even worse, as Redbird is currently undergoing ‘economic redevelopment,’ some residents allege that mistreatment may be a method of displacement within larger gentrification efforts.& Flordeisha Moore is a resident at Hickory Trace Townhomes in Redbird. After about three years of living at the complex, she began facing issues with excess/bulk trash piling up around the central dumpster just a few steps outside her residence.& For over a year, Flordeisha has been complaining about excessive trash and has alleged retaliation from her complex for doing so. Ever since her initial complaint, issues have begun to compound. “I made a request to have the trash removed, and also for something to be done to fix it. There’s several dumpsters in this complex, but for some reason all of the bulk trash goes here,” Flordeisha says. “After I talked to the property manager, my car was illegally towed.” Flordeisha cites communications with both her residential manager and HighMark, the real estate company that owns Hickory Trace,...