Vista Shadow Mountain Complex Pays $100,000 Overdue Water Bill: ‘We’re Not Shutting Down’

Leasing agents at Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments said they paid the more than $100,000 past due water bill Tuesday morning.

It’s good news for some residents who now have water and can stay, but others still have to move out.

Staff at Vista Shadow Mountain said the water will not be shut off for residents because the bill was paid. They said it took so long because they’re in an ongoing dispute over water meters with the city.

"My AC works good, we had a couple leaks on our faucets so they came in and fixed them. They've actually been great to us since we've been here,” said Scott Hamlin.

Hamlin said he's lived at Vista Shadow Mountain with his family for the past year. He said there isn't anything wrong with his apartment, like some of his neighbors, but he was concerned when they thought they were going to lose water, so they started packing their things.

Hamlin said they received a notice earlier in May that the water would be shut off, but staff in the leasing office told him it would be taken care of.

Related Story: Vista Shadow Mountain Residents Searching For New Places To Live

"We were thinking about moving somewhere else because of all the stuff that was going on with the water, but they reassured us that we didn't have to worry about it so we went ahead and signed another lease,” said Hamlin.

Many of the apartments around Hamlin are undergoing renovations for water damage.

Vista Shadow Mountain Assistant Manager Destiny Murley said they had some pipes burst this winter, forcing them to shift some residents around due to renovations, but unfortunately didn't have room for all of them.

Murley says 164 out of 592 units were not damaged, but they didn't have space for everyone. That's why some residents received a 30-day notice on their door.

“We were able to relocate some of them but due to the renovations we don't have a place to put all of them,” said Murley.  

She said they have been working with other complexes and the Tulsa Housing Authority to make sure those displaced residents have somewhere to go.

"We've called around to surrounding complexes and even tried to help and see if they had anything for the residents," said Murley. 

Murley said ever since New York-based BMGA Properties took over the complex in January, they've been looking into their higher water bill. Murley said they didn't pay the water bill on time, because they're trying to sort a meter situation out with the city.

They said they have three easements on the property and several individual meters and believe they're paying more than they should. 

“Not only are they being charged for those three easements, they're also going to the next meter, to the next meter, to the next meter where the water has already been charged at that one easement,” said Murley.

Murley said they aren't accepting any new residents right now, but hope to have more tenants once renovations are complete.

"We are doing our best to make the complex better and get everything up to par,” said Murley.

The leasing office said the residents who were given a 30-day notice didn't have to pay rent last month. They say if any residents have any issues, they want to hear their concerns directly.

Tulsa City Councilor Lori Decter Wright has been talking with displaced residents for the past few days and is planning a pop-up event Saturday to connect residents with the resources they need. It’s on July 10th from 9 until noon at Volunteers for America located at 9605 E 61st St. near 61st and Mingo.