SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Sutton Apartments in San Marcos are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and health and safety concerns have led the San Marcos Police Department, the city's Code Compliance division and the Fire Marshal's Office to try and remedy the situation.
In a release, city officials said they had been working with the complex over the past year after receiving numerous complaints from people who live there, and the issues became so severe that on Aug. 17, the property was given a health and safety warrant. Complaints include sewage backup, lack of hot water and absence of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, according to city officials.
Leeann Hall, who said she moved in back in February, said she's had issues since she first walked into her apartment.
"My floor has been wet since I moved in. Every morning I got to get up and clean up water – downstairs and upstairs. The restrooms leak. My carpets are wet upstairs," Hall said.
Hall was issued an eviction notice.
"We got a letter with the date saying to move out," said Hall.
San Marcos officials also noted the complex has seen a surge in criminal activity, and since June, police have responded to 82 calls, with the majority of reports involving assaults, weapons concerns and criminal trespassing.
Hall said she has dealt with at least four break-ins since moving in and nothing was done about it.
"There's a lot of stuff that goes on, but most of it's not the people that live here – it's people that come here," said Hall. "If [police officers] were patrolling more before, none of this would be happening. I mean, there would be still stuff happening, but not as much."
Although the Fire Marshal's Office gave notices of evacuations back in August, some chose to stay. However, another notice was given on Oct. 16.
Tressa Cook, who also lives at the complex, is upset with how the situation has unfolded. She said she has nowhere to go.
"It's their [Sutton Apartments'] responsibility to keep the conditions livable. They failed to do that, so we're the ones winding up on the street with no place to go. I don't see how they're not liable for that," said Cook. "They can't just make us leave and pretty much literally just throw us all out on the street, because that's exactly what they're doing."
On Oct. 13, San Marcos police conducted a criminal trespass operation to make sure there were no squatters in the empty units. That led to two unrelated arrests for people who had warrants.
City officials mentioned that resources will be made available for some people who need temporary housing and hot meals.