This timeline reflects the recent events that led Creative Choice, a Florida-based real estate developer, to lose the rental license for Rosedale Ridge, a low-income property in Kansas City, Kansas. This process was separate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's decision to terminate their relationship with Rosedale Ridge and Creative Choice.
You can read the full story here.
Sept. 4, 2014 — Rental Licensing Unit of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County (RLU) performs a periodic inspection and finds severe mold among other problems. A License Suspension notice is posted, giving management 15 days to remediate the mold and provide an air quality report.
Oct. 2, 2014 — Mold remediation report provided and passed.
Oct. 30, 2014 — Property fails scheduled re-inspection. No Occupancy Notice is posted, saying that the management has 30 days to correct the failings or the property must be vacated by 12/1/2014.
Nov. 24, 2014 — UG assistant county administrator Gordon Criswell and Rental Licensing director Debby Graber visit Rosedale Ridge. They move the re-inspection from 11/30 to 12/29, saying they saw progress. They also expressed concerns about relocating residents during the holidays.
Dec. 29, 2014 — Scheduled re-inspection finds some progress, but there are still Life, Health and Safety violations and all buildings are non-compliant. Mold remediation is underway.
Feb. 10, 2015 — Re-inspection finds some violations corrected but vacant units still have mold and there are exterior and hallway issues. All buildings are non-compliant. Creative Choice says all construction will be finished by April 1st.
Feb. 29, 2015 — Contractors disconnect a furnace and allow an open flue to release carbon monoxide; three individuals are poisoned and sent to the emergency room.
March 23, 2015 — Sheetrock work is inspected for permit, not complete
March 25, 2015 — Sheetrock work is inspected again, still not complete
March 26, 2015- Paul Sowders, head contractor, asks for another inspection, saying he was working all night and slept in his car to get it done. Sheetrock fails inspection again.
March 30, 2015 —Sheetrock work is inspected and fails again.
April 1, 2015 — Deadline to have work completed; Sowders emails RLU and says not to come out, nothing is ready to be inspected. RLU notifies Creative Choice that their license has been revoked and everyone must vacate within 90 days.
April 6, 2015 — HUD meets with residents and says they have terminated their contract with Creative Choice. Everyone will be moved out. This is due to their own inspections and the termination of the rental license.
May 7, 2015 — Re-inspection finds none of the buildings are compliant. Randy Verbanak, one of the inspectors, is of the opinion that the whole complex must be taken down to the studs. Colin Welsh, attorney for the UG, attended the inspection and says, “It’s like the Price Is Right. We don’t know what’s behind any door and Mr. Sowders does not either.”
May 11, 2015 — Rental License Appeal hearing. Creative Choice is given 30 days to come up with a plan, get a 24-hour maintenance man and make noticeable progress.
Source: testimony provided at Creative Choice's Rental License Appeal hearing by Colin Welsh, attorney for the UG.