Residents of Dosker Manor share violent, deplorable conditions to city of Louisville officials

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Residents of Dosker Manor complain that they have been living with mice, mold, bed bugs and crime for too long. They are asking for change.

A meeting was held at the housing complex Monday afternoon with city leaders and the Louisville Metro Housing Authority.

"Everyone who lives at Dosker Manor, who lives at Parkway Place, at Avenue Plaza, deserves better and that's why we are here," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "Our administration has been working since the first day to focus on residents at LMHA, folks who get Section 8 vouchers through LMHA and people who need affordable housing across this entire city."

For months, WDRB has reported on the conditions with public housing and Dosker Manor. When the new LMHA director, Elizabeth Strojan, was appointed to her position in November, she toured the buildings to see the issues up close and asked for patience so they could make improvements.

City and LMHA leaders encouraged residents to attend the meeting so they can be a part of the planning, which will include focus groups, workshops community meetings and surveys.

"She has roaches, she has mice over there that are eating through the walls of her apartment and she don't have the ability to be able to walk and do things and so I help her," a resident said to city officials. "I think that we need to get some pest control here."

Resident Jason Jones was skeptical and questioned whether their input is really wanted.

"They don't let residents talk. They invite the residents to come to the meeting, but they never let the residents talk," Jones said.

Strojan talked to residents who live in the housing facility that was built in 1968.

"What we are committed to today is to working with you, communicating with you and to listening to you so you're going to know what we are thinking, what we are planning, the obstacles that we are facing, what we are looking at what we think we need here at Dosker Manor and we are going to listen to you when you tell us the same thing," Strojan said.

A Louisville Metro Council committee also voted last month to order an investigation into LMHA. Some councilmembers at the time said Dosker manor made LMHA look like a slumlord.

There were plans to hire an independent investigator because of the complicated nature of the investigation encompassing several agencies even at the federal level.

Strojan said demolishing Dosker Manor is also an option, but it would require long-term planning.

LMHA plans to hold another public meeting in April.

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