COLUMBUS, Ohio — A preliminary injunction was imposed against the owners of an apartment complex in Columbus’ Hilltop neighborhood.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s office says the 16-unit complex on North Huron Avenue has been the site of significant drug trafficking and gang activity in recent years.
More than 150 calls for service have been made to the complex in the past two years, which include reports of drug sales, overdoses, shots fired and violent crime.
An environmental court judge imposed the preliminary injunction Tuesday and the owners subsequently agreed to several enhanced security measures. Some of the measures include the right of access to police, fire, code enforcement and the court’s compliance officers to ensure owners are abiding by the court’s orders.
Columbus police officers will also be able to complete a security walkthrough of the premises to determine what additional security measures to require of property owners, including lights and cameras.
The owners must also provide a rent roll of all tenants and provide a list of people who are trespassed or banned from the property.
Every tenant will now be required to sign a crime-free lease addendum, and all new tenants must submit to a background check and share the results with the police. Leases may be denied to anyone convicted of certain felony charges of violence, possession or sale of illicit drugs within a given timeframe.
“The level of crime and violence at this complex is among the worst I’ve seen as City Attorney, and residents are rightly fed up. I’m thankful for the work of the Division of Police to build a case to hand off to the Property Action Team to present to the Court, secure this injunction, and begin to clean up this property to benefit residents and families,” said Klein. “We cannot allow these havens of violence, drugs and crime to go unchecked. That’s why we’re taking this extensive action to hold landlords accountable and ensure this complex is more safe and secure.”
According to court records, police responded to the complex several times for instances of shots fired, violent altercations, stabbings, overdoses, break-ins and assaults. In August 2022, Columbus police engaged in a standoff with someone who pointed a gun at officers, according to Klein’s office.