Troubled apartment complex sold, former owners fined

A new owner has taken over a partially closed apartment complex in Carson City.

According to the Carson City Clerk-Recorder’s Office, trustees of the family trust that owned Carson Pines Apartments off David Street — William Kranz and Melody McEachin — sold the property to Desert Apartments LLC near the end of January.

Desert Apartments is listed on a sale deed with a Reno address. According to the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office, John M. Delap of Fountain Valley, Calif., manages the company.

Delap did not return the Appeal’s calls requesting comment. As of Feb. 7, permits for repairs at the site had not been pulled, according to Carson City Community Development.

On Jan. 9, more than two dozen apartments on the second floor of the complex were tagged unsafe by city officials after a years-long battle to get Kranz to make repairs to structurally unsound walkways and staircases and to address other health and safety issues. The second floor will remain closed until repairs are completed.

Court documents show Kranz pleaded not guilty to a charge of chronic nuisance regarding the property in Carson City Justice and Municipal Court in June 2021. On. Jan. 31, Kranz was fined $500 by Justice of the Peace/Municipal Court Judge Kristin Luis for contempt of court — a misdemeanor — for not complying with court orders. Additionally, Carson City Community Development charged the former Carson Pines owners $7,200 in civil fines for code violations.

Tenants who were forced to move from the complex with little warning are still struggling. A support group has been set up on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/565566951663921/?mibextid=HsNCOg.

Carson City Health and Human Services officials said displaced tenants can still get assistance with apartment searches and security deposits.

“Also, we will assist them with connecting to other resources such as Nevada Rural Housing Authority, if appropriate,” said Mary Jane Ostrander, manager of city human services. “The residents may be told there are 150 applications before them; however, many of those individuals on the ‘waiting list’ may have found another place and do not respond when property managers call, so their applications could move up the list quickly.”

Ostrander said as of Feb. 3, six households affected by the Carson Pines eviction had followed up with CCHHS. Three of those were relocated into housing, she said.

“We have been notified that three others located housing without our assistance, and several residents went to family or friends, so they have not contacted us,” Ostrander said.

To contact CCHHS, call 775-887-2110 or visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/human-services/.