Park Place Apartments a work in progress
Naranjo works for his father, Gabriel, who purchased the 250-unit complex in 2005 -- a year that saw the Naranjos working to improve the image of a complex frequently associated with crime. Those efforts were largely heralded as a success, but on that day in
Debris ripped from the buildings and limbs from trees were scattered all over the ground. Roofs had been torn off a swatch of units down the center of the complex. The site was condemned. Families were encouraged to remove their property and find someplace else to live.
Since then, construction has been a long process. In an interview with the Tribune last week, Naranjo said one or two of the buildings could be open by fall.
"Our goal -- and again it's a goal and a lot of things have to fall into line -- is that we open one or two buildings for mid-fall, and then construction can continue all around it," he said.
Updates will be posted on their Facebook page as the progress moves along, including when pre-leasing will be opened.
Those couple of buildings are nearest to
Apartments will be outfitted with granite countertops, vinyl floors, new windows, doors and lights. Each now has a washer and dryer hookup. Two-bedroom apartments have central air conditioning. Efficiency apartments have a more open layout after a wall that separated the kitchen and main room was removed.
It's enough of a step-up that Naranjo said he would consider the final product a luxury complex.
"We did everything we could to make sure that all of our residents when they do move in have the lowest possible electric bill in the summertime and in the wintertime," he said.
All this is a learning curve for the company, said Naranjo. While Scott said
"Never anything close to this, and I hope that no one else that we know of anyone else in the property management business ever has to go through this," he said.
One of the hardest parts was undoubtedly the displacement of all the residents. Only around 10 units were vacant, and the rest were full of individuals and families who had to pack up and leave with little notice.
Naranjo was in
"And the next thing I knew, she texted me and she just said it looked like a warzone," he said.
Calls to
"Again, it's not just difficult for us financially. It's difficult to see people get displaced from their home, it's difficult to watch your building deteriorate as you're fighting with the insurance -- there's a lot of other factors that go into it that's not just a purely financial aspect," said Naranjo.
Scott guessed construction didn't start until around
Now, a train of progress can be traced throughout the complex.
"You got plumbers and heat and air guys out front, and then electricians are right behind that and then your insulation, just following each other around the complex," said Scott. Each building was or will be gutted and rebuilt.
Naranjo said local officials have been good to work with and helpful throughout the process.
"It looks like from here on out it should be -- I don't want to use the word 'smooth sailing' -- but consistent sailing," he said.
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