Aurora Apartments in Controversial Viral 'Gang' Video Sentenced to Shutdown by City

AURORA | Aurora officials have told the owners of a now-infamous apartment complex that they will take legal action to get the complex closed largely because of uncontrolled crime at The Edge at Lowry.

The complex at 1218 Dallas St. was the scene of security video in August that showed gunmen in an apartment hallway. The video went viral and sparked intense controversy about Venezuelan immigrants and gang members.

Apartment complex owner CBZ Management has become the center of controversy as some of its Aurora apartment complexes have become the focus of conflicting claims about gang members, immigrants and property mismanagement.

CBZ management officials from the Guardian were not immediately returned.

Aurora closed another CBZ apartment complex earlier this summer, sparking fears among other CBZ property tenants that they, too, will be evicted as the cold weather approaches. The apartments are predominantly occupied by financially struggling tenants, many of whom are immigrants.

Controversies in the region have sparked a firestorm across the country, culminating in presidential candidate Donald Trump's continued insistence on the false claim that all of Aurora had been taken over by Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gangs.

Although the Oct. 1 letter said the city was prepared to go to court if the company didn't act, it would still be “several weeks” before the building would have to close, said Ryan Luby, deputy communications director by Aurora.

“Our primary focus is getting these delinquent property owners to take care of their properties and their tenants,” Luby said in an email.

The letter states that the city has decided to file a criminal lawsuit against CBZ Management by Oct. 6 for the six buildings on Dallas Street that make up The Edge at Lowry complex if the company does not act.

The operation would include the building where the infamous viral video was recorded on August 18th. Building owner and Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky have alleged that the video showing six men with guns knocking on an apartment door and going in, as well as another video depicting two men kicking in an apartment door somewhere in the complex, is a Evidence that the facility was “taken over” by Venezuelan gangs. A man outside the apartment complex was fatally shot minutes after the gunmen were seen in security footage, police said.

Aurora police said Tuesday that they had identified all of the men in the Aug. 18 video and were in the process of issuing warrants and making arrests. Police said they were not aware of any evidence linking any of the men in the video to Venezuelan gangs or any “organized crime.”

Aurora officials in the letter point to repeated reports of crime at the Edge and the complex's owners' lack of response to security and other issues as grounds for a nuisance lawsuit.

Mayor Mike Coffman has publicly referred to CBZ as “slumlords.”

It was the same process used to close the Aspen Grove apartments this summer after the city and residents reported unlivable conditions that the owner was unable to resolve, in this case after more than two years of closure Subpoenas.

City officials have repeatedly said they have offered to support and work with CBZ to address issues such as poor trash disposal, police security, water shortages and a long list of public health concerns at this complex and others owned by CBZ fix.

City and Aurora police officials say they have been focused on The Edge since the controversy erupted in August.

On September 20, the city of Aurora sent CBZ management a “notice of determination of criminal ownership” for Edge. Six days later, the Aurora City Attorney's Office sent a criminal complaint to CBZ management against all six buildings in the complex.

Property owners will be given 10 days' notice before the city can file a nuisance lawsuit in Aurora Municipal Court. If an application is made, the city will “seek to close,” the letter states.

Because an updated letter was sent Sept. 26, property owners have until Oct. 6, city officials said Tuesday.

“The City will be prepared to file the necessary pleadings to commence the criminal action against these six properties in Aurora Municipal Court during the week of October 14, 2024,” the letter states.

The city's letter asks CBZ Management to manage its properties or hire a qualified property management firm for the six properties along Dallas Street by Oct. 14. In this case, the city is willing to discuss the delay in filing, the letter states.

The city offered to provide a temporary police presence at the property, but the offer was not accepted, city officials previously said.

“To be clear, this situation is different from the circumstances that led to the closing of another of your clients’ properties at 1568 Nome St, Aurora,” the letter states.

The Aspen Grove apartment complex on Nome Street is the complex that Aurora was forced to close on August 13 due to negligence. CBZ Management officials and legal representatives have repeatedly insisted that this complex was also “overrun” by Venezuelan gang members, preventing the company from managing the apartment complex. Aurora police and city officials have repeatedly denied the claim, saying there appeared to be gang members on site but that the problems stemmed from years of neglect and mismanagement.

Unlike the Nome Street apartments, the six Dallas Street apartments are reported primarily for criminal activity.

“Criminal activity on any property is a public nuisance within the meaning of Aurora city code,” reads the notice sent out Sept. 20 by the Aurora Police Department to determine the ownership of certain crimes or in their property and will be used for the use of their Property held responsible by tenants, guests and residents.”

Cited criminal activity at one of the complex's buildings, 1208 Dallas St., includes aggravated assault with a blunt weapon, disturbances, trespassing, apprehension of fugitives, repeated noise disturbances, shots fired, aggravated assault with a firearm, weapons offenses, etc. Homicide.

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