KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The residents of two apartment buildings in south Kansas City were relocated from their homes Tuesday after officials became concerned over the building’s structural integrity.
A spokesperson with the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department said officials are assisting the residents of the Coach House Apartments at 11213 McGee Street with temporary housing.
The spokesperson said a tenant of the building notified KC Healthy Homes, which in turn prompted an investigation by city officials.
That investigation determined there was a threat of collapse at the building, resulting in the residents of four units being relocated overnight. In the course of their initial investigation, officials identified a second dangerous building. The residents of that building have 48 hours to be relocated.
KSHB 41 spoke with residents, who said the move was unexpected.
"They kicked us out of the building to be honest, they said we have 48 hours to evacuate," one resident said. "This side has 48 hours, the other side that is damaged, they had to leave immediately."
The resident said the issues have persisted for years.
"We had a leak that’s going on at least two years, to be honest, almost two to three years and they would keep on coming and patching it," they said.
Photographs taken by city inspectors show a portion of the brick facade missing from the three-story building after the management company attempted repairs. Insulation and wood-framing were exposed on the side of the building all the way to the roof line.
A search of 311 complaints in the immediate vicinity of the apartments shows at least three calls for service made dating back to Oct. 2021. The most recent of the calls was in July 2022. City records identified the call as a Health Homes issue involving rental property. The call was assigned to the Health Environmental Services Department. No entry was made in the resolution date.
—
