Tenants allowed back on previously condemned property, but still facing power issues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE 11/4 at 10:11 a.m.- The JEA bill has been paid.

ORIGINAL STORY

Families at an apartment complex in the Love Grove neighborhood are plagued with sewage problems.

Residents at Blanchard Apartments have been put through a roller coaster of emotions this week. First, they were told their homes were a public health hazard and they needed to get out of their homes in three days.

Now, the city of Jacksonville said they’re allowed to stay. Crews with the city were at the complex on Wednesday, working to fill the septic tank and a leaking potable slab. A water quality sample revealed levels are now “appropriate,” according to a city spokesperson on Friday.

RE:ATED: Property owner of Jacksonville apartment complex condemned for sewage issues in jail in Clay County

However, residents could be forced out if bills aren’t paid by next week.

“I would be screwed,” Kayli Williams said. She’s lived at Blanchard Apartments for two years. “I have four different people who all say that I can stay with them, but they are upstairs so that means as soon as I go up the stairs, I am stranded.”

Williams is wheelchair-bound. She likes Blanchard for the close proximity to her rehab facility and because the units are all at ground level.

The property owner, Brian Lozito, is currently in Clay County jail for violating parole on a child abuse charge from 2019. Action News Jax reporter Meghan Moriarty found he has a lengthy criminal history.

Lozito owes the Jacksonville Electric Authority $7,427.91 in unpaid electric, water and sewage bills for the complex. The payment is due by Nov. 4.

A spokesperson with JEA sent us this statement in regard to shutoffs for residents.

“JEA is now managing the Blanchard Apartments customer account in a more hands-on manner, working collaboratively with various JEA departments. This means that we will have increased opportunities to work with the account owner on any non-payment issues. If we do not receive payment and cannot reach the account owner (or someone who has been designated to speak to the account status), residents will be given a 10-day notice of the risk of disconnection.”

Water quality levels initially indicated the residents could get seriously sick from the water, which is why residents were previously told they needed to leave the units by Saturday. Now those levels have come back clean and residents can stay, according to a city spokesperson.

“I’m a little bit relieved that they said we could stay,” Williams said.

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