LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The former owner of the troubled Little Rock apartment complex—Big Country Chateau—has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy that defrauded lenders out of more than $50 million.
The charges come after years of health and safety issues at the apartment complex, ultimately leading to the city shutting it down last summer.
Little Rock officials also wanted to prevent something like this from happening again.
When Norma Huffman was living at Big Country Chateau last year, she said she was in the hospital regularly and physically sick from the conditions.
But now that the city has helped tenants move out of Big Country Chateau, everything has changed.
"I'm safer," Huffman said. "My son is safer. My service cat is safer. I don't have to worry about us going to the hospital because we can't breathe, and that's the biggest thing."
And where she had broken air conditioning and bug-infested cabinets at Big Country Chateau, Huffman can now sit, relax, and even show off her new kitchen.
"I am so proud of my pantry," Huffman said. "I show this to everybody. I have a pantry."
After residents moved out, the city approved a new ordinance to protect renters like Huffman in the future.
The new ordinance directs quality standards, like electricity, heating and air, and pest control, among other safe and sanitary conditions.
Neal Sealy, with Arkansas Renters United, a community group, pushed for the new ordinance for months. The group continues to help tenants and is now getting even more calls from those in need.
"The ordinance is good," Sealy said. "It's just a step... It is not all that we need. Certainly, we need changes in state law. That's a different story, but there's more the city can do."
Now, the group is counting on allies in the city board to push for more vigorous enforcement.
"I think that this helps," Sealy said. "It's a small victory, but we can say even in a place like Arkansas, if you get together and organize, you can start winning some things for people."
People like Huffman, who has since joined Arkansas Renters United in pushing for better protections.
"It's not me being indebted to them; it's me paying it forward to the people that need help like I did," Huffman said. "Like my son did... I'm not going to stop."
If you're living with ongoing health and safety issues that aren't getting fixed, you can reach out to us here at THV11 to help get answers by calling or texting (501) 376-1111.