Portage Township Trustee’s Office sends demands to Karl King Tower owners, managers

When only two of the building's 12 boilers were working in December, leaving most residents in the 12-story, 219-unit apartment complex with little to no heat, Critchlow sent the AG a formal complaint. Following that complaint, ABC57 confirmed the Indiana Attorney General's (AG) Office is officially investigating the complex, primarily composed of elderly and disabled Section 8 tenants.

In the meantime, and with the AG's blessing, Critchlow is still pushing for repairs at Karl King.

"As usual, we're pigeon-holed by the laws in Indiana that need to be changed to provide greater protections to residents. And so, we're trying to operate within the framework that we're able to operate in here, and push the limits where we can," he said in a Tuesday news conference at the Portage Township Trustee Office.

The Portage Township Attorney, Alex Bowman, sent both the property managers and property owners what they called a "Demand Letter," outlining the problems at Karl King and their list of demands, and threatening civil action if the letter goes without a response.

"Goal number one is to get heat in the building as fast as possible," Critchlow said.

There are four demands listed:

• One: Full repair of the boiler system and elevators.
• Two: Compensation for the residents of Karl King, who pay for utilities in their rent.
• Three: Restitution for Portage Township.
• Four: Agreement to a three-year period of self-monitored compliance and reporting.

"The reason for that is, we simply don't trust them to do the right thing, because they haven't done the right thing," Critchlow said.

The letter asked the recipients, Karl King Holdings, LLC, and Treetop Companies, to respond within 10 days of receipt.

"There are people watching, there are people caring," Critchlow said, "and it's not just going to be allowed to happen anymore."

You can read the letter below: