KANSAS CITY —On Wednesday February 26, while attempting to conduct an annual inspection of the Cloverleaf Apartments, 14554 US-71 Highway, Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Fire Department learned that there was no longer a property management team in place, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.
Multiple fire violations were found in all of the buildings along with deplorable and unsustainable living conditions. Appropriate leadership within the fire department and the city was notified along with members of Leumas, an agency operating on behalf of HUD. A decision was made to shut the complex down and tenants were given 48 hours, Friday 5:00 p.m., to be relocated.
Tenants were given Saturday and Sunday to continue to move household items. Leumas/HUD had 76 individuals on their list of legal tenants and worked to relocate them to temporary and in some cases permanent housing. Other individuals staying at the property either legally or illegally were provided with resources through the city to relocate. Many chose to relocate on their own.
On Monday, members of the Kansas City Police Department did a building by-building sweep of the property to ensure every unit, and every building was empty. At which time, a contractor provided by the city began boarding up each building. All utilities to the property have been shut off and the property is considered closed and uninhabitable.
The decision to close the property for fire code violations along with health concerns is not a decision the Kansas City Fire Department took lightly, but one that was made with compassion and life safety as the driving force. The unfortunate and tragic situation the residences found themselves living in was no fault of their own, but that of a negligent property owner.