A troubled apartment complex in Colorado, known as Aspen Grove, is set to be sold by landlord Zev Baumgarten after it was taken over by the violent Venezuelan migrant gang Tren de Aragua. The city of Aurora had been in a legal battle with Baumgarten over the deteriorating conditions of the complex, accusing him of allowing it to become a gang-infested and trash-ridden environment.
Baumgarten’s company, Nome Partners LLC, has agreed to sell, lease, or find a similar disposition for the complex, which was closed in August, displacing around 300 residents. The company is also responsible for cleaning up the site as part of the agreement.
The dismal state of Aspen Grove was attributed to the takeover by Tren de Aragua by Baumgarten’s company. Police had been aware of the gang problem at Aspen Grove for almost a year before the situation escalated to the point where staff abandoned the site, leading to trash accumulation and the building falling into disrepair.
Despite blaming the gangs for the issues at Aspen Grove, Baumgarten found himself facing over 80 charges for building code violations, including vermin infestations and power outages. Prosecutors noted that another property owned by Baumgarten, Fitzsimons Place, also faced code violations dating back to 2020. This property, along with a third site in Aurora, had also been overrun by migrant gang members.
Residents of Aurora have been experiencing the fallout from the gang activity, with reports of shootouts and other criminal incidents tied to Tren de Aragua. The city has been dealing with the consequences of allowing a large number of migrants to enter, leading to increased crime rates and safety concerns for residents.
The situation at Aspen Grove and other properties owned by Baumgarten highlights the challenges faced by landlords in managing properties in areas affected by gang violence and criminal activity. The agreement to sell the complex is a step towards addressing the issues and improving the living conditions for residents in Aurora.
