Review for Kent Apartments

05/29/09

Thornton, CO – Ask local property managers about the reputation of the Kent Apartments on W. Walnut St. in Garland and you typically get a one word answer…”Rough”. After years of absentee ownership, neglect, and finally bank foreclosure, Kent Apartments was becoming too much to handle for even seasoned property management veteran Janice Schoech. But all that changed when the Kent Apartments were acquired by a Denver based investment group, Metro Wing LLC, and it’s strong history of property renovation.

“The complex required significant spending on deferred maintenance, but the general condition was quite solid”, says Paul Pewterbaugh, of Metro Wing. “As a specialist in converting older apartment buildings, I immediately recognized the enormous opportunity in this project.”

Along with the property improvements, a significant effort was made to reposition the residential makeup into a family-oriented complex. “We basically had to clear out the problematic tenants in one big push”, states Peter Shaw, also of Metro Wing. “Drug dealers, deadbeats, and other destabilizing residents were evicted due to lease violations. What remains are a solid, diverse community of caring residents, and we are seeking new tenants who share this vision.”

The owners are adamant in their desire to make the Kent Apartments a model for working class housing in Garland. “It’s a simple covenant. We promise our tenants an affordable, attractive place to live in return for timely rental payments and respect for fellow tenants’ rights”, claims Ms. Schoech, resident property manager.

As the Kent Apartments completes renovations, signs of improvement are rippling further down the block to competing properties. “Upgrading this section of town is a win for the residents, a win for the owners, and a major win for the City of Garland!” exclaim the two partners. One drive through the block affirms this opinion.