November 27th 2024.
When Kevin Singer took over as the court-appointed caretaker for Whispering Pines Apartments in Aurora, he was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the property. Despite its infamous reputation due to allegations of a Venezuelan gang takeover, Singer found that the property was in better shape than he had anticipated. He noted in his report that the efforts of the Aurora Police Department had largely resolved the more serious issues that had attracted media attention prior to his appointment.
In his first public comments since taking on the responsibility of turning around Whispering Pines, Singer revealed his findings in a nine-page report filed with the Arapahoe County District Court. This report covers his actions during the month of October and sheds light on the current state of the property.
Whispering Pines, along with other Aurora apartment complexes, is owned by CBZ Management, a New York company that sparked heated debates when it claimed that its buildings had been taken over by the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. However, the City of Aurora and tenants have pushed back against these claims and accused CBZ of being a negligent landlord.
While Singer does not take a stance on the controversy surrounding Tren de Aragua's presence at Whispering Pines, he does mention it briefly in his report. He notes that his staff met with the Aurora Police Chief in early October and discovered that the worst of the crime had been resolved by October 8th.
The majority of Singer's report focuses on the condition of the three buildings at Whispering Pines. He highlights numerous code violations, such as leaks and electrical issues, and mentions that one of the buildings did not have hot water when he took over. However, by October 21st, the boiler had been repaired and other improvements had been made, including the installation of security cameras and self-locking doors, resolving maintenance requests, and repairing fencing.
Singer also mentions the challenges he faced in hiring contractors to make repairs, as some backed out after submitting proposals. It is unclear whether the property's high profile played a role in their decision. Whispering Pines made headlines in September due to CBZ's claims of a gang takeover and the tenants' organized responses, demanding repairs and emphasizing their commitment to paying rent.
Singer's report also addresses the issue of rent payments. While the property's tenants have generally cooperated with the receivership, Singer has learned that tenant advocacy organizations advised them not to pay rent, making his job more complicated. At the end of October, only one tenant had submitted their rent payment.
Singer's appointment as receiver was due to his expertise in taking control of properties overrun by criminal activity. This was necessary for CBZ's Aurora properties, as the company owes $9.2 million to U.S. Bank, as decided by Judge Don Toussaint in September.
When asked for comment, an attorney for CBZ and vendors hired by Singer to manage and provide security at Whispering Pines did not respond. As Singer explains in his report, he is not authorized to provide interviews without the court's permission.
Singer has yet to file a report on his work at 200 Columbia, another CBZ property in Aurora. For more business news, sign up for our Economy Now newsletter.
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