“Black out” continues at The Jefferson Apartments as common areas remain dark for three weeks

On Feb. 19, ABC57 visited The Jefferson Apartments after receiving multiple calls and emails asking for someone to stop by. They shared they have no lights in the parking lots and no lights in the hallways of their buildings. Residents describe the environment at night as "pitch black" and "creepy."

After speaking with the management, Daniel Management Group, in February, we learned they were a new group that took over in the middle of January and were trying to get settled in. The regional property manager, who doesn't want to be identified due to safety concerns, told us there was a delay in getting things set up.

“We have a third-party energy provider and because we’re new management, they had a delay in the transition so we’re calling them like 'what’s going on?' and they’re like 'because it’s new management, there was a delay in us putting in your information to get the utilities paid.'"

Two weeks after our first story, ABC57 has continued to receive calls and emails from residents asking for a follow-up. They tell us that a small portion of the property has lights but the rest of it does not. One man even says crime has increased.

Jeffrey Johnson has lived at The Jefferson Apartments for over a year and says recently, have no lights in the parking lot or hallway made paying rent a massive challenge. He also says the way rent is paid is different now.

"I've been on direct pay since I've been here and since they took over, now she told me you have to either pay them $30 a month, or I can take myself to the bank, withdraw the money, and then go to one of their partners like CVS, 7-11, then you could pay them and pay a fee of five or six dollars to do it," Johnson explained.

Johnson says he had his rent payments on auto payment and there was a $2.49 fee. For this new process, he says a barcode is needed for this process; he forgot it and went home to get it. He says this is when things took a turn.

"I came back home to get the barcode, and soon as I entered in with a case of water in my hand. I got ready to walk up the steps, and somebody put, I presume, a pistol to the back of my head. It was something hard, and just told me, 'don't move,' and went through my pockets," he continued.

$1,320 for rent stolen in what he describes as his 'pitch-black corridor.' However, that's not all.

This is one of the washing machines on site, full of water but unusable since common areas don't have power. Johnson tells ABC57 he has to go elsewhere for clean clothes.

The regional property manager declined to speak with us on camera for the foreseeable future due to safety concerns, but sent us the following statement:

"The building hallways that were originally affected were restored; however, we later discovered additional common-area lighting that had been disconnected. We have complied with every request made by both Conservice and AEP Indiana, and this continues to be our top operational priority. While we are not yet clear where the administrative breakdown occurred, we are applying consistent pressure to ensure the remaining common-area lighting is fully restored.

To clarify, this issue pertains exclusively to common-area lighting such as hallways. Residents are responsible for maintaining their own electric service in accordance with their lease agreements. If a resident removes utilities from their name contrary to their lease terms, that can result in service interruption to their unit; however, that is not representative of the property as a whole."

While she declines in person interviews, she says in her email "that said, I am absolutely willing to continue providing written updates and maintaining open communication."

Johnson says residents are fed up.

"Their behavior is completely unprofessional, and to ask for our patience, in my mind, is asking for a lot. We're only asking for lights. We're only asking for our safety. We're asking for the complex to be lit. For the snow to get shoveled, for salt to be thrown on our walkway, not just in front of your office area. We're not asking for a lot," said Johnson.

ABC57 is working on getting in touch with Conservice, the utility provider based in River Heights, Utah that management says is responsible for light in the common areas, to see what more is needed for lights to be on in the common area of The Jefferson Apartments.