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Flying Low: Dove Park Apartments Gets a Bad Grade for Repairs

Flying Low: Dove Park Apartments Gets a Bad Grade for Repairs
Dove Park Apartments | Image by Apartment Finder

Kelly Coleman has lived in the Dove Park Apartments for three years. She moved into the complex in September 2019 with her daughter and, since then, has needed repairs in her home.

She says she has been requesting the repairs non-stop.

“I had asked for a replacement microwave for three years and just got it replaced,” said Coleman speaking to The Dallas Express.

Coleman said that she has been in need of a working refrigerator as the one the complex provided makes “loud noises” and is over ten years old.

She claims that Melissa Noles, the complex’s property manager, as well as the repairmen with whom she has spoken, have repeatedly told her that the refrigerator is “brand new.”

The Dallas Express was provided with a picture of the refrigerator manufacturing label showing the date it was made: December 2012.

But these are just a small fraction of the repairs that Coleman has been requesting. She also needs repairs in her bathrooms.

“Both light fixtures in both bathrooms are rusted out and have burn marks on the ceiling from light bulbs,” Coleman said.

“I only use one light bulb for fear of a fire. Ben, the repairman, has said, ‘There is nothing wrong with them,’” Coleman claims.

Coleman’s windows have shown damage to them according to her and are in need of being replaced, as one of her windowpanes is shown to be held together by glue.

The Dove Park Apartment community was built in 1983 and has two stories with 262 units.

ApartmentFinder.com lists the complex rental price from $1,250-$1,615 for both one- and two-bedroom units.

Coleman told The Dallas Express that the electrical outlet under her sink is not safe and has recently started smoking. She claims Ben told her a week ago, “It’s working now.” And that the problem was with a small spoon stuck in the disposal that was causing it to catch fire.

She said the repairman told her nothing was wrong with the electrical outlet. “A previous maintenance guy literally got shocked from that same outlet when trying to fix it,” Coleman said. “He no longer works here, but I watched him as he got shocked.”

She also told The Dallas Express that there are other neighbors’ apartments in need of repairs just like hers.

“I have heard from talking to neighbors, it’s at least five other apartments,” Coleman said.

The complex has a list of complaints filed against it, according to James Adams, code enforcement for the city of Grapevine. “A lot of times people will call, but won’t give us their name because a lot of people in apartment complexes are afraid of retaliation,” Adams said, speaking to The Dallas Express.

“They’re afraid they are going to get put out, or their rent will go up, or something like that. We run into that problem all the time,” Adams said.

Coleman claims that when she asked about the repairs request, she was told, “They [property management] have put in the repairs request and will be right out.”

“I hope that all the repairs are done and done right. I also hope that this brings awareness to the entire apartment complex and that everyone that lives here knows that they have the right to safe housing for themselves and for their family,” Coleman added.

The Dallas Express has repeatedly reached out to the Dove Apartments for more information and comment but has not received any response.       

 

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6 Comments

  1. Nancy

    Dove Park Apartments needs to be shut down.

    Reply
  2. Anna

    Why not move?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      Some of us are here trying to put our kids in good schools. As a single parent with a special needs child I’m trying to do right by my child and set my child up for success later in life.

      This property is in need of a complete over haul. The siding and exterior pain hasn’t been repaired in years. It’s falling off and pain is pealing. Wood is rotting. Some siding is replace with wood 4×8 sheet wood and not actual siding. The retaining walls are in need of repair. The are
      disintegrating from age. Stairs don’t have railings. Plumbing and sewage issues, AC issues although many units have finally been replaced. The trees on the outside fall on carports durning every storm and an insurance claim for carports or fixing the car ports is cheaper then fixing problem before it damages people vehicles. Abandon vehicles are a huge issue. People doing vehicle maintenance in the parking lot on the weekends. This is all just external.

      A friend stay the night with me and his gas was siphoned out of his tank on 10/30 early in the morning. Property is stolen by other residences and very small kids(3-5 years of age) run around unattended and in the streets.

      Maintenance staff can not be kept and turn over quickly because the property is in such disrepair. Smoke Detectors were only replaced because Grapevine Fire came through for an audit. Mine were over 10 years old and I asked multiple times for them to be replaced after a building fire. It took the city checking before anything was done. Holes in walls around plumbing fixtures and pest control hasn’t happened inside the units in years unless you ask specifically for pest control. We pay a monthly fee for pest control and no one has done routine service since before Covid.

      The list can easily go on and on and on. Stop by and just walk the property. It’s not difficult to see all the external issues and the internal issues are worse.

      The office staff is the worse apartment staff I have ever worked with. They have zero care and excuses for everything. The goal is to just get you off the phone.

      Reply
    • Anonymous2

      Because those who have lived here and got in a good rate before Covid hit and now can’t afford anywhere else. Moving means paying more than $300 more a month! But that doesn’t mean We shouldn’t have to accept a run down apartment. What the article didn’t state was that Kelly’s whole ceiling fell through, they failed fire inspection and then had to replace pieces on the HVAC unit which caused it not to work so then they just came it took the piece right back off which makes it not up to code again. The cabinet in one of the apartments fell off the wall in their child’s bathroom. Could have fallen on their child. Its a dangerous situation all around. You just sit and wait for the next thing to go wrong.

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      Based on the article, it appears Coleman is wishing to encourage other tenants to not only make complaints but follow through with them. The article reads that The City agrees that people don’t make complaints or follow through. I’m assuming since this complex is directly across from a school, that just up and moving may create a huge inconvenience for parents whose kids are enrolled there.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous

    If the average rent here is $1450 and there’s 262 units, that means there’s roughly 380k going towards apartment that were built in the 80’s and haven’t been renovated or properly maintained. Where is all that money going?????

    Reply

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