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City takes over Hilltop complex full of crime and violence

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A temporary restraining order has been issued against a Hilltop apartment complex that the city says is a haven for drug and gang criminals and has attracted more than 150 police visits in the past two years.

Environmental Judge Stephanie Mingo issued a temporary restraining order against the complex's owners in response to a lawsuit filed by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein.

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“The level of crime and violence in this complex is among the worst I have seen as city attorney, and residents are rightfully fed up. I am grateful for the work of the Police Department in building a case, turning it over to the Property Action Team to present to the court, obtain this injunction, and begin the process of cleaning up this property for the benefit of residents and families,” Klein said in a press release.

“We cannot allow these breeding grounds of violence, drugs and crime to continue unchecked.”

The property consists of four two-story brick buildings with four apartments each at 190 – 210 N. Huron Ave. The complex, built in 1960, is owned by Abbeyhill Management and Aram Gosdanian, according to the lawsuit. A representative of the complex could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to Klein, “the complex has been a haven for drug trafficking and consumption in recent years.”

Over the past two years, Columbus police have responded to more than 150 calls to the complex, including more than a dozen cases of shootings, violent altercations, stabbings, overdoses, burglaries and assaults, Klein's office said in a news release. An incident in August 2022 resulted in a standoff between police and a person who pointed a gun at police.

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As part of the injunction, the landlords agreed to several security measures, including allowing police, firefighters, law enforcement and court representatives access to the complex. Police will also determine what other security measures are needed, such as lighting and cameras. The landlords must also provide a list of tenants and a list of anyone who has entered or been excluded from the premises, and update those lists in a timely manner.

In addition, new tenants and tenants with month-to-month leases must sign a lease that contains no criminal record. Additionally, all new tenants must undergo a background check and report the results to police. According to the court ruling, landlords cannot rent apartments to people who have been convicted of certain crimes in the past 10 years, including violent crimes and some drug offenses in the past 20 years.

“For several years, this complex has been an eyesore on the Hilltop and a safe haven for drug dealers and gangs,” said attorney Rob Doersam of the Property Action Team in a press release. “CPD was instrumental in this case, and now the landlords have a court order to clean up the place to make it safe for tenants and the neighborhood.”

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@JimWeiker

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