Karl King Tower owners release statement on compliance agreement with Indiana Attorney General

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The ownership of Karl King Tower in South Bend is now under a legally binding voluntary compliance agreement with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General (AG).

Following the ABC57 Investigates special report, "Chaos at Karl King," the property owners, Karl King Holdings LLC, entered into a compliance agreement with the Portage Township Trustee's Office. Residents affected by the lack of proper building heating over the winter were granted a 20 percent rent credit for March 2026. The new agreement with the AG's office incorporates everything in the agreement with the township and then some. The AG's agreement requires improved safety measures and better security in the building.

"The court-approved Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Karl King Holdings, LLC resolves our investigation into heating failures at the Karl King Riverbend Tower in South Bend during sub-freezing temperatures, as well as reports of substantial criminal activity affecting residents and the community," an office spokesperson for Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a May 15 statement to ABC57. "The agreement requires ongoing habitability compliance to ensure similar instances do not occur in the future, implementation of the rehabilitation plan, and enhanced long-term security and safety protocols. We appreciate the owner’s voluntary cooperation. Our office will actively monitor compliance to ensure resident safety."

Tenants who spoke anonymously with ABC57's Annie Kate say positive changes seem to be underway, and a new on-site property manager is present. ABC57 called the office at Karl King Tower to request to speak with the new property manager and has yet to hear back.

ABC57 is still working to speak with a representative of Karl King Holdings LLC. To date, interview requests have gone unanswered, barring several written statements sent from New Jersey-based Treetop Companies, the known property managers.

Following the announcement of the AG's compliance agreement, Karl King Holdings sent ABC57's Annie Kate the following statement:

"We have been working cooperatively with the relevant agencies and continue to take the commitments outlined in the agreement seriously.

Over the past several months, we have implemented and continued advancing a number of operational, maintenance, safety, and security-related initiatives at the property. This has included significant investment into building systems and infrastructure, enhanced on-site oversight, additional security measures, and ongoing coordination with third-party professionals and local stakeholders, all while continuing to serve an important affordable housing need for the low-income senior population in South Bend.

The property has also established internal procedures intended to ensure continued compliance with applicable requirements and to help address resident concerns in a timely manner.

We remain focused on the long-term stabilization and improvement of the property for both residents and the surrounding community and look forward to continuing those efforts moving forward."

ABC57 will continue to follow the changes and security upgrades promised to come to Karl King Tower.