Ads for Antigua Apartments describe sea views, multiple swimming pools and “stunning” views of palm-fringed land.
But nearly two months after Hurricane Beryl hit Galveston County, the complex’s grounds are a sight filled with extension cords running across the sidewalks, windows left open by people seeking fresh air, exposed pipes, broken glass, pieces of missing siding, tarps on the roofs and several pools that tenants say haven’t been maintained in some time.
“When I first moved here, you could actually go into the pools and swim,” said Bud Miller. “Now they’re green and full of moss. They’re just gross. All of them are gross.”
Miller, 87, has lived in the Antigua Apartments for more than 15 years. Like almost everyone else on the island, he experienced a power outage during the Beryl event, but since then he has been without power for extended periods of time.
“The problem is they don’t want to put me in an air-conditioned room when we’re sick,” said Miller, who needs a pacemaker to keep his heart beating properly. “I have to sit here and sweat until I’m sick. It’s bad for me. If the power goes out, I can’t get air conditioning here. I’m in trouble here.”
Several residents reported that there was a power outage in their homes on August 5 and that it lasted until August 15.
The property manager spoke to The Daily News on August 16 and said the power outage was due to a faulty transformer and that power had been restored to all units.
However, some residents said another power outage occurred later that day and continued until this week.
Calls on Friday to a number listed as that of the apartment complex’s owner, Jennette Hunnicutt, were not answered by press time, and attempts to obtain additional contact information through the city government were unsuccessful.
Complaints about long power outages in the August heat and reports of significant damage to housing units prompted the city’s Building Department to begin inspecting the complex’s 170 apartments, officials said.
After inspectors recently completed an assessment of the vacant apartments, they began checking the occupied apartments on Thursday.
“The Building Department will identify any violations of international property maintenance codes and other violations of city ordinance,” said city spokeswoman Marissa Barnett. “This work is ongoing and inspectors spend several hours on the property each day.”
“Due to the size of the complex and the scope of the investigation, the investigation is expected to take several weeks.”
Miller said he received a visit from city employees on Thursday morning.
“They checked our electrical panel and there’s something wrong,” he said. “There were other problems. There’s structural damage. The building is falling apart.”
A DARK MONTH
The complex’s manager said Thursday that only two individual units were without power; a tornado at the time of the hurricane caused minor damage to some roofs that had to be covered with tarps, and there were no leaks.
However, some residents paint a different picture.
Candace Galloway lives in an apartment with her adult daughter who has disabilities, while her other daughter moved into a nearby apartment on Aug. 1. The neighbor’s daughter’s power was restored on Aug. 15, but went out again just hours later. It remained that way until Tuesday, she said.
“She’s in a very difficult situation,” Galloway said. “And I’m trying to help as best I can, even though my own home was damaged by the hurricane.”
Because she had electricity, Galloway’s daughter and grandchildren were able to stay with her temporarily. However, photos of her own apartment show mold growth and bulging ceilings, which suffered significant water damage.
The mold has been spreading for two months, she said. And she hasn’t had hot water since November. Still, the increased electricity bill is bothering her.
“I have asthma and a disabled adult daughter who lives with me,” she said. “I have to keep the temperature at about 24 degrees, otherwise she is in pain and can’t breathe.”
Her other daughter, in whose housing unit during the Beryl War water dripped from the ceiling into buckets scattered on the floor, did not dare to speak out for fear of reprisals.
When Daily News staff searched the area this week looking for people to talk to, many conversations were had, but no names came up.
A man who was not living there but was temporarily staying at a relative’s apartment said they had been without power for three weeks. A tour of the apartment revealed undeniable damage to the ceiling and bedroom wall, and an extension cord was sticking out the window. It was plugged into a nearby laundry room, as it was the only way to get power for the fans.
But rents are low and many people cannot afford to move, he said.
Advertisements for Antigua Apartments say the complex offers 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments starting at $895 a month. Those who have lived there for years and maintain their lease pay less, but others have to pay more despite maintenance issues.
“A couple of storms ago, we were paying $650 a month in rent,” said Miller, who rents on a month-to-month basis. “All of a sudden, our rent went up $200, and we really needed a break. It was a huge blow.”
“They just said if you don’t like it, you can move,” Miller said.
“WE ARE HAPPY”
Not everyone has had a bad experience at Antiqua Apartments. Some describe the same amenities as in online ads.
“Anything we’ve had a problem with or anything like that is resolved very quickly,” said Corey Caston, who has lived there since January. “I can’t speak for the other people here.”
Caston and his wife live in an apartment above the administration office.
“We are happy,” he said. “We have a beautiful double balcony with a sea view. The rent here is pretty good.”
Caston has identified problems in other parts of the complex, but not in his particular unit.
“We were here when the storm came and most of the transformers here broke,” he said. “And it took a while for them to replace them. But it wasn’t 100 degrees back then, so everything was OK.”
There was a problem with the air conditioning once. It was quickly fixed.
“There are things they could fix and things they probably need to pay attention to, but for the most part it’s OK.”
Online reviews of the complex often mention problems with insects and rodents, but that is the least of Miller’s worries.
“This is normal here,” he said. “You are on the dike. You can expect this.”
