Update on the Riverside Apartment crisis in South Cobb County, Ga.

This information was provided by Community Activist Monica DeLancy.

The attorney representing the three sister properties - Kingsley Village, Parkview Apartments and Hunter Grove Apartments - withdrew from the eviction cases on March 15th. All cases from those properties were dismissed, and residents who had counter claims were awarded their judgments. There were multiple judgments awarded -were $15000, $1500, $2950, $1200, and $1000.

On Monday, March 11th new property managers took over the property and stated that they are in the process of working maintenance orders and speaking with tenants to build relationships. The tenants who went to court for eviction were filed before the new management started on March 11th.

On March 12th, 30 residents from the South Cobb community went to the state Capitol to discuss HB346 with elected officials as well as education policies. HB 346 is the bill presented by Representative Sharon Cooper that stops landlords from retaliation if residents complain about living conditions on rental properties. The trip was organized by Monica DeLancy, We thrive in Riverside Renters Association in partnership with National Center on Learning Disabilities, and Word of Faith sponsored the transportation.

The three properties are still owned by the same investment group which has requested a jury trial for their 80 code violations. The date of the trial have not been set.

Opportunity to Thrive Community Pop Up will be at Parkview Apartments, 360 Riverside Parkway in Austell, Georgia on Thursday, March 21st 1:00p.m. to 4p.m. This will be an opportunity for residents to meet the new managers and receive fresh fruits and vegetables from Amerigroup. In addition there will be resource guides and keep Cobb Beautiful info table so residents can learn strategies to help keep their community clean. The Community Pop Up is in partnership with We Thrive in Riverside Renters Association.

For more information, contact Monica DeLancy at 770-369-6531.

For federal rental assistance, go to https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance.