Progress being made at apartments despite recent fires
Despite three arson fires at the dilapidated Lantana Apartments this year in west Oklahoma City, progress has continued with efforts to redevelop the property.
Firefighters are hoping the fires will stop once out-of-state owners complete renovations and people move back into the complex.
Plagued by structural problems, the apartment buildings have sat mostly vacant for a decade. In March, the Oklahoma City council agreed to a forgivable $190,000 loan to allow the renovations to move forward, to be released if renovations are complete and the complex is 25 percent occupied by September 1, 2018, a city spokeswoman said.
Since 2010, Oklahoma City firefighters have responded to about two to five intentionally set fires per year at the apartments, a fire department spokesman said.
“We obviously hope that our number of fires here will decrease once is apartment complex is fully renovated and that they become occupied again,” said Oklahoma City fire Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson.
A fire was set about 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 in a new building that is being renovated, Fulkerson said. There were two other fires set in buildings this year: one about 12:40 p.m. March 31 and another about 1:35 p.m. June 19. Fulkerson said the property is not well-secured currently.
“If they are occupied, our hopes are that they are better secured,” Fulkerson said. “Just people being here and having eyes on the situation would make a difference.”
No arrest has been made in any of the fires this year, Fulkerson said.
In 2008, pizza delivery driver Jeremy Moore was gunned down by robbers at a vacant apartment unit where he went to deliver a pizza.
There are 102 remaining units today of what was originally a 180-unit complex when it was built in the 1970s.
Workers were busy on building renovations during recent sunny days. Crews worked on roofs, interiors and painting. Painters put a new coat on a fence that surrounds the properties.
Ward 1 city Councilman James Greiner said neighboring residents have wanted the apartments torn down over recent years. The city tore down seven firedamaged buildings in 2015. Greiner said he thinks the ongoing renovations will make a difference.
“If people are living there, I think people will be less likely to burn stuff down,” Greiner said.
Anyone with information about the fires at Lantana may call fire investigators at 405-2327766.