AUSTIN -- City of Austin Code Compliance inspected 84 units at the Wood Ridge Apartments and found 760 code violations. Inspectors say there were electrical, mechanical and plumbing problems. They also found units without smoke detectors and with an infestation of roaches and bed bugs.
"Some tenants are choosing to go back into what they call home. Our goal is to be expeditious to bring it up to code as soon as possible," said Melissa Martinez, a spokeswoman for City Code Enforcement.
About 40 families were displaced from their homes and couldn't return for three weeks while the complex made emergency repairs. Now a week later, code compliance was back, inspecting each apartment unit one by one.
"It looked they were on a mission to just document every single thing," said tenant Linda Foss.
Foss has problems with her unit, including a bulge in the ceiling. The floor is not level, and the windows don't line up. She likes living at Wood Ridge, and she's afraid she can't afford anywhere else.
"This is a very habitable apartment. We like it very much," said Foss.
Six families moved back in, and 60 apartment units are empty.
Code Compliance plans to present a final report to the Building and Standards Commission at its next meeting.
