JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two days after residents of a Westside apartment complex had their water restored following days without service, the News4JAX I-TEAM is looking into the owner of the property, who, JEA confirmed, has now paid the thousands of dollars that were owed.
Just before 6 p.m., JEA confirmed Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC had paid the $19,000 that were owed in unpaid water bills for the Arbor Oaks Apartments on Jammes Road. The payment came the same day News4JAX contacted the registered agent and manager linked to the LLC and asked about ongoing issues.
Water was running at the apartment complex when News4JAX visited on Thursday. However, we noticed another issue: bugs covering Kathy Lewis’ kitchen counter.
Lewis said she and other residents can’t contact the owner or anyone else at the complex to address issues like this.
“It is really awful. The bugs are eating through the paint of the ceiling,” Lewis said.
Iris Woods also said she has some bug issues in her apartment.
“I don’t like it. I don’t like it. I don’t like living here. I want to move, but I don’t have no place to go right now,” Woods said.
After two days trying to reach the office, News4JAX attempted to knock on the office’s door once again on Thursday, hoping to speak with someone in charge.
No one answered.
“It’s been an ongoing issue for quite some time. You know, they keep the office closed,” Lewis said.
During Thursday’s visit, News4JAX noticed the City of Jacksonville posted citations on the property.
According to the city, it issued three citations. One for failure to maintain property, which mentions cracked flooring, holes in walls and baseboards separating. A second citation was issued for failure to maintain facilities and equipment in good repair, and a third citation for failure to maintain facilities.
The citations were issued to Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC.
Duval property records show the apartment complex is owned by Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC, and JEA said it previously owed $19,000, which led to the water being turned off multiple times since June. That money was paid Thursday.
Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC shows up on the deed, which records show was signed over on April 9. State records show Andrew Sallee as the registered agent and manager of Jacksonville Rental Properties.
After searching his name, News4JAX found YouTube videos with Sallee on podcasts. He also has a strong Instagram following of more than 1 million people, and he describes himself as an investor in real estate and an entrepreneur.
News4JAX exchanged direct messages with Sallee on Thursday morning after he commented on our Facebook post stating he was not the owner of the property and that he had sold the asset.
After exchanging messages on Facebook, News4JAX exchanged emails with Sallee. He said we should contact the owner, and he included the name of who he said is the owner’s chief operating officer. We replied, asking for a record of the sale. The response we received was that the attorney is out of the office at this time.
According to the latest TRIM notice for that property, as of August, it was sent to Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC, which is under Sallee’s name.