Rep. Sykes Urges KMG Prestige To Immediately Improve Living Conditions For Residents At Wilbeth Arlington Homes
AKRON, OH — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) sent a letter to Paul Spencer, President and CEO of KMG Prestige, on April 1, 2024, concerning the unacceptable living conditions at the Wilbeth Arlington Homes in Akron, OH. In the letter, Rep. Sykes urged KMG Prestige leadership to immediately address longstanding maintenance delays and safety concerns adversely affecting the well-being of residents.
Rep. Sykes wrote, in part:
“It is our shared responsibility to ensure that all members of our community have access to safe and adequate housing. In consideration of the persistent concerns expressed by my constituents, I urge KMG Prestige to take immediate action to address and rectify these conditions. Timely resolution of these matters is crucial to upholding the standard of living that our community deserves.”
View the full letter here.
On February 21, 2024, Rep. Sykes hosted former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge in Akron. During the visit, Rep. Sykes and Sec. Fudge met with local tenant organizers to discuss protecting the right for tenants to organize and improving living conditions for residents of Wilbeth Arlington and Ericsson Apartments. Rep. Sykes’ team is also working with HUD and community leaders to support tenants at the Victory Square Apartments in Canton, OH.
On April 3, 2024, representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and staff from Rep. Sykes’ office conducted a property inspection at Wilberth Arlington and Ericsson Apartments after Rep. Sykes requested HUD investigate tenant concerns regarding the living conditions at these properties. The inspection highlighted many safety concerns previously expressed by tenants including unsecured front doors and entryways, downed cable lines in the yards of residents, plumbing and drainage issues in many units, and continued issues with missing and broken window screens.
Following this inspection, HUD announced it would convene a working group with the Ohio Housing Financing Agency, KMG Prestige, and tenant leaders to address these ongoing safety concerns and improve the living conditions at these properties.
As Vice Chair of the New Democrat Affordable Housing Task Force, Rep. Sykes is committed to working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), property owners, homeowners, tenants, and community leaders to ensure every person in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District has a safe, affordable place to call home. Rep. Sykes and her fellow task force members unveiled the New Dems Housing Action Plan, which includes more than 20 policy recommendations that would make improvements to five key factors in affordable housing: the housing supply, permitting and zoning laws, federal financial incentives, the construction workforce, and data collection and transparency.