Palms Apt Ordered to Repair Safety/Habitability Issues
CONROE, Texas — Residents of The Palms at Rolling Creek, a 284-unit apartment complex that has long served as a focal point for city code enforcement complaints, may finally see relief following a sweeping court order issued by Judge Stephen C. Currie of the 3rd Administrative Judicial Region.
The May 9, 2024, ruling marks a significant escalation in the City of Conroe’s multi-year battle to force the property owners to bring the complex, located at 2100 Willowbend Drive, up to basic habitability standards. For many of the families residing at the complex, the court’s intervention is the first tangible sign of accountability after years of mounting reports involving raw sewage, lack of hot water, and persistent safety threats.
The litigation, spearheaded by City of Conroe Municipal Court Prosecutor Paige Johnson, culminated in a hearing where the scope of the complex's disrepair was laid bare. According to city records, the property has been the subject of 160 notices of violation since 2021. The city formally escalated the matter in December 2023, filing for a Temporary Restraining Order after years of administrative fines failed to prompt significant structural improvements.
Residents have provided heartbreaking testimony regarding their living conditions. Ana Cruz, a long-term tenant, reported living without reliable hot water for three years. Other residents documented chronic mold infestations, non-functioning HVAC systems during extreme Texas temperatures, and hazardous conditions, including uncapped gas lines and standing sewage in living spaces. Beyond the physical structure, security at the complex has been a point of failure, with reports of broken perimeter fencing and gates, missing fire extinguishers, and high rates of reported criminal activity, including narcotics use and vehicle theft.
Ziad Mehio, the managing partner of ZIM Rolling Creek Conroe LP, argued in court that his company took over the management of the property in November 2022 and has inherited a systemic failure from previous owners. Mehio asserted that the firm has already invested millions of dollars into infrastructure and unit renovations. However, Judge Currie’s order suggests that the court remains unconvinced by past progress, establishing a strict, non-negotiable timeline for future compliance.
Under the court’s mandate, ZIM Rolling Creek Conroe LP must submit a comprehensive remediation plan by May 16, 2024. Repair work is required to be underway by May 23, with a final deadline for all repairs set for August 7, 2024. The order requires the owners to address critical life-safety issues, including plumbing, heating and cooling, structural integrity, and pest control.
The ruling also introduces stringent oversight measures. The property must post notices in both English and Spanish in all common areas, providing residents with direct channels to report continuing maintenance failures to the court. Additionally, the owners are required to submit daily progress reports to both the city and the court and must reimburse residents for utility expenses incurred as a result of the property’s failure to provide essential services. A 5,000 dollar bond has been established as a condition for the hiring of a new property manager.
Judge Currie left little room for further delays, explicitly warning that if the ownership fails to meet these deadlines, he is prepared to appoint a receiver to take total control of the complex’s management and finances.
This order brings a period of intense scrutiny to the property, which has been cited by tenants in online reviews as far back as 2013 for similar failures. For current residents, the mandate represents a rare legal victory against a backdrop of prolonged housing insecurity.
Residents who are still experiencing unresolved habitability issues are encouraged to document all communications with property management and contact the City of Conroe Code Enforcement office at 936-522-3600 to ensure their specific unit's status is included in the ongoing court-ordered monitoring process.