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Cimarron apartments still irritate neighbors

Code violations plague the Town 'N Country property, and the county will not issue a loan for renovations. A committee will brainstorm solutions.

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The Cimarron apartment complex is once again the center of attention. And once again the attention is not good.

At a meeting of the Town 'N Country Alliance this week, county officials listened to a litany of complaints about the complex at Hanley Road and Jackson Springs Road. Neighbors described crime, litter and other problems. Sheriff's deputies, firefighters and code enforcement officials lamented a lack of response from the apartment management.

"They talk a good game," said Dexter Barge, county code enforcement director. But "without pressure from code enforcement, they would not have done anything."

The Sheriff's Office investigated gang activity at the 500-unit complex a few years ago. Since then, a private security company hired by Cimarron has come and gone. Although gang activity seems to have subsided, code violations continue to plague the property.

The apartments "had mold, mildew, leaking roofs and more crime problems," Barge said.

The county assessed Cimarron, which is managed by C.J. Management in Boston, roughly $20,000 in fines for code violations.

Cimarron managers did not return a call from North of Tampa this week.

Monday night's meeting, which county Commissioner Kathy Castor attended, put to rest rumors that the county would give Cimarron a low-interest loan for renovations.

"Cimarron has come a long way in cleaning up the property," Barge said. But "we're not comfortable with supporting money for renovations."

Castor said the community would need to get involved to clean up the complex. "Our hands are tied," she said.

The alliance established a committee that includes Castor, Barge, Sheriff's Capt. Rod Reder, fire Chief Bill Nesmith and several Town 'N Country residents. No Cimarron tenants attended the meeting. The committee will make recommendations to the alliance.