{"id":287,"date":"2017-05-03T16:31:29","date_gmt":"2017-05-03T16:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/no-place\/?p=287"},"modified":"2017-05-24T16:23:42","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T16:23:42","slug":"west-dallas-families-caught-in-middle-of-citys-housing-code-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/no-place\/2017\/05\/03\/west-dallas-families-caught-in-middle-of-citys-housing-code-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"The Landlord And The Mayor: Friction With A Human Toll"},"content":{"rendered":"

The city of Dallas can now inspect the inside of rental properties \u2014 something that wasn\u2019t possible before code enforcement standards were tightened in September. Mayor Mike Rawlings hopes that policy means higher living standards for everyone, especially low-income families. K<\/em>hraish Khraish runs HMK Ltd, which owns 305 rental houses in West Dallas and nearby. He says he can\u2019t afford to fix those houses. Unless something dramatic happens, those families on the financial edge will have to leave their homes by early June.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 The latest:<\/strong> Landlord offers to sell rental homes to longtime residents; judge extends move-out deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Complying With New Standards<\/h5>\n

When some people think of business in West Dallas, they think of new developments, high-end apartments and the Trinity Groves restaurant scene. Khraish Khraish\u2019s company owns storefronts that have been in the neighborhood a lot longer \u2014 car mechanics, tire sales and appliance repair shops.<\/p>\n

Khraish and his father are co-owners of HMK Ltd. Back in 2004, they bought hundreds of 70-year-old rental homes in West Dallas and Oak Cliff. He says back then, the buildings were in worse shape, and HMK put millions of dollars into improving them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese homes were built without the oversight of building code, without the supervision of building inspectors back in the 1940s,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Since housing standards were strengthened last fall, he says, getting the houses up to code isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n

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    Wesley Gaddison, a longtime employee at Chuyitas Taqueria, sits outside the Llantera Hernandez New & Used Tires on Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas. Photo\/Allison V. Smith<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    A view of The Austin apartments from inside Chuyitas Taqueria on Singleton Boulevard. Photo\/Allison V. Smith<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    A view of The Austin at Trinity Green apartments on Singleton Boulevard. Photo\/Allison V. Smith<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    A view of The Austin apartments from inside Llantera Hernandez New & Used Tires on Singleton Boulevard.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    Red balloons outside The Austin at Trinity Green, an apartment complex off Singleton Boulevard. Photo\/Allison V. Smith<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    Construction on The Austin at Trinity Green apartments. Photo\/Allison V. Smith<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n