Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

Tucson - The Vista Sierra apartment complex on Fort Lowell was shut down in June because conditions got so bad. The heating and cooling system broke down several times and the complex was forced into foreclosure.

Metropolitan Housing Corporation owns the complex. They bought the building from Housing and Urban Development.

Now empty the property has been hit hard by vandals and causing concerns for residents in the area.

"What's happening to the neighborhood? It looks like somebody doesn't care," says Sandy Miller with the Richland Heights East Neighborhood Association.

She has lived in the area for over 20 years and worries about a domino effect.

"You can't get in good neighbors. You can't get in good businesses because they don't to be next to a building like this."

She's also concerned about other elements this pulls into her neighborhood and now fears people are breaking in and staying over night.

At Salon de Noveau, just several feet from the complex, manager Marva Bryant says her clients are chatting about the vacant building.

"It's frustrating to see the empty buildings all along the whole street. I mean, we're a high end salon and it's nice to see the buildings kept up around us."

So what will happen to the vacated complex? News 4 talked to the city to get some answers.

"Our enforcement staff in the city has been working to board up the building, clean up the trash and try to secure it as best we can," says Albert Elias Director of the Housing and Community Development Department with the city of Tucson.

Keep it secure until HUD decides how to dispose of the property.

A spokesperson at HUD tells us that process will take until December. They are evaluating the market and determine the cost of repairs. HUD also tells us it's too early to consider demolition.

In the meantime, Elias is optimistic the problem will be solved.

"And like other foreclosures eventually there is a process that allows the property to be disposed and someone else will take control and ownership of the property and clean it and hopefully restore it."

The sooner the better for neighbors and businesses.

Marva Bryant from Salon de Noveau says, "Whatever happens, we hope that it's quickly. You know, the longer it sits there definitely there's going to be a lot more problems."

We contacted Metropolitan Housing Corporation but they declined to comment on the matter.