Elm Grove Garden Apartments back in spotlight over poor living conditions

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - "It's too many 'lil kids round here to be living in this kind of condition."

Alice Cunningham was shocked after seeing pieces of her daughters ceiling scattered on the bathroom floor. This is just one of many damaged units at the Elm Grove Garden Apartments. Natasha Cunningham, who reached out to us, says she deserves better.

"I pay my rent on time, I keep it nice and clean, and I'm not understanding why I can't get any maintenance done to this apartment," said Cunningham.

She sent us a few photos before the ceiling fell in. She says her and her children stayed at her mother's house overnight. When she came back Monday morning, the ceiling had fallen in. Now, her mother is concerned.

"It's time for her to get out of here, it's just a bad... it used to not be like this," said Alice Cunningham.

This is not the first time we've visited Elmgrove Garden Apartments. Our own Cheryl Mercedes investigated this same complex back in 2014. Roaches, flooding, and loose railings are just a few of the things she found. Four years later, things appear to be worse than before.

The Investigators: Nightmare on Elm Grove

We tried approaching management, but they refused to speak with us. We contacted the City Parish Attorney's Office; they directed us to Councilwoman Chauna Banks, who represents District 2, where the apartment complex is located. She sent us the following statement:

I am very aware of the deplorable conditions that exist at Elm Grove Gardens Apartment. My first Concern is for the residents that currently reside at the complex in less than standard conditions. A collaborative meeting with the private owners, as well as the Housing Authority and the Louisiana Housing Corporation is being planned....

Natasha Cunningham says until they resolve the issues, she is just going to have to make it work.

"I have to go way to my mother's house to use and take a bath... I mean, I'm wasting gas. I live here... why can't I get, you know, reasonable accommodations in my own home?"

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