Avon Tenants Decry Living Conditions At Apartment Complex

AVON, CT — Residents of an embattled Avon apartment complex rallied outside Monday to announce their formation of a tenants' union in protest of what they say are poor living conditions there.

Avon Place Apartments, located at 47 Avonwood Road, Avon, is owned by an out-of-state landlord from New York, Empire Realty.

According to tenants there, the landlord has failed to fix mold issues and address water leaks, in addition to not fixing a parking lot they say is full of potholes.

As a result, the residents there have formed the Avon Place Tenants Union, which is an offshoot of the statewide Connecticut Tenants Union.

Monday, several state and local officials gathered with tenants to show unity with residents there.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was joined by several other officials to demand better living conditions as "tenants grapple with widespread mold and fungus, severe potholes, water leaks, chronic heating and hot water problems, and more."

Blumenthal said the landlord, reportedly, refused to return security deposits "while threatening eviction of multiple leaders in the newly formed tenants' union."

He said he "is a staunch advocate for tenants' unions, previously supporting the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, which would expand the right to organize to the millions of tenants living in federally supported housing and provide additional funding to ensure they have a stronger voice in addressing their living conditions and advocating for their rights."

Other leaders also expressed concern about the situation.

"What we heard today as the many reasons why a tenants’ union is necessary is beyond the pale. Elevators that don’t work, even though people with disabilities live in the buildings. Paying for amenities that haven’t been available for three years, including the pool and gym. Potholes deep enough to damage your car. Mold and mildew are throughout the buildings. Tenants were unable to ever return to the buildings after a major fire a couple of years ago. And, this landlord owes the town of Avon around $1 million in liens," wrote state Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, on social media.

Other lawmakers representing Avon agreed.

"Tenants at Avon Place are living in unacceptable conditions — from mold and crumbling infrastructure to unresponsive and hostile management. When I visited a few weeks ago, I saw it firsthand: a minefield of potholes at the entrance, the strong smell of mold in the lobby, and shockingly, property management calling the police on a peaceful meeting with residents," said state Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, on social media.

"These families deserve better. We will continue to stand with the tenants of Avon Place until their landlord steps up and meets basic standards of dignity, safety, and respect."