HOUSTON – Broken windows. Overflowing sewage. Stagnant pools of green water. And gunfire heard in the middle of the day.
These are the conditions surrounding the Lakeside Forest Apartment Homes on Wilcrest Drive near Briar Forest.
The deteriorating conditions and public safety concerns have sparked outrage among nearby neighbors and members of the Lakeside Improvement Association, who are now demanding immediate intervention from city officials.
For Aaron Romero, a board member of the Lakeside Improvement Association, the tipping point was hearing gunshots while his children played outside.
“How has it got to the point where hearing gunshots on a Monday afternoon at 5 o’clock is a normal thing?” Romero said. “Our first reaction was gunshots again because it’s just become such a normal thing that it really didn’t surprise us. However, that was frightening in itself.”
Since January 4th, Houston police have received more than 140 calls for service to the complex, according to the department. Those calls range from trespassing, assaults, criminal mischief, theft and others. While HPD notes that apartments naturally generate more calls due to high density, residents say the scale and frequency of incidents at Lakeside Forest go far beyond the norm.
Meegan Dunlap, another board member, says the complex is having a ripple effect on the entire community.
“It has such an effect on our entire community,” she said. “If the conditions are this bad that we can see on the outside, I can only imagine what they’re like on the inside.”
A search of 311 data reveals multiple open cases for health and safety code violations at the property. A recent inspection report noted that “overflowing sewage is still present on the sidewalk. It has not been cleaned and smells awful.”
Among the other violations: broken glass throughout the complex, unsecured structures, and hazardous living conditions.
“These buildings look uninhabitable,” said Dunlap. “It’s no place I would ever want anyone I know or a family member to have to live.”
KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun tried speaking with tenants at the complex, but no one wanted to speak on camera.
District G City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman has also weighed in, describing the Lakeside Forest and nearby complexes as “inhumane, unsafe, and unfit for families.”
“They have become hubs for criminal activity, habitability concerns, and consistent code violations, overwhelming our police department and straining other vital city services,” Huffman said in a statement. “Meanwhile, the living conditions in these developments are unacceptable—inhumane, unsafe, and unfit for families.”
When Balogun visited the property this week, he attempted to speak with management on site. Instead, he was met by security.
“They don’t want to talk,” a guard told Balogun. “We’ve got to ask you guys to leave the property.”
KPRC 2 also attempted to contact the property’s corporate management, KPM Property Management. As of this writing, we have not received a response.
Neighbors remain skeptical of any last-minute cleanup efforts, with Dunlap calling them “lipstick on a pig.”
“You saw all the code violations posted out front,” she said. “So, it’s like, ‘look what we’re doing’ but it’s superficial.”
With conditions worsening and no clear response from management, residents are calling on the city to act. A new multi-department inspection is scheduled for next Friday.
While no one is advocating displacement without a solution, Dunlap says she’s open to seeing the complex rebuilt—so long as it means safe, affordable housing remains available.
“That would be absolutely fine,” she said. “But that decision’s above my pay grade.”
Statement from City of Houston:
“On May 28, 2025, a multi-department Inspection/Investigation was conducted at this location by Houston Public Works – Houston Permitting Center – Building Code Enforcement & Community Code Enforcement, Houston Fire Department, and Houston Health Department."
HPW-HPC-Building Code Enforcement (BCE) Investigations Section
“PROJECT#25049267. I55 (city inspector) on joint task force mission, with multiple departments. Upon arrival department met with management and was allowed access to walk the complex. Upon investigating I55 observed many sewer caps that were not secured with raw sewage running. Multiple units with broken windows and unsecured abandoned properties that will need to be secured. I55 also observed open disconnect boxes and open Ac condenser panel, with exposed wiring. I55 also observed some new electrical panels that had been installed on several buildings, however, after doing further research on ILMS, I55 confirmed that the electrical permits for the panels had been obtained and finialed out. There is open dangerous building complaint for building 14, reference project #25039170. Building has not yet been secured; a citation will be issued for this violation. Swimming pools on property are full of dirty water, which I55 was informed that this is handled by the health department. I55 also observed in boiler room 3, a leak on the boiler. This could possibly have several buildings without hot water, although no complaints about no hot water have been made. H55 and H37 also stated a programmatic inspection on the property, which in tell will cover most of the findings on this property. Pictures detail all discrepancies on this property, with the building #s stamped on the pictures."
City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman Full Statement:
“I have identified two “foreign” or “travelling” Public Facility Corporations (PFCs), owned by Texas Essential Housing Public Facility Corporation, out of the City of Boerne, that are in clear violation of Texas law. These entities have failed to comply with mandatory audit reporting requirements established by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) since June 1st of 2024. This is not only a legal failure—it is a betrayal of public trust.
These properties, located in District G, contribute nothing in property taxes while draining our city’s public safety resources. They have become hubs for criminal activity, habitability concerns, and consistent code violations, overwhelming our police department and straining other vital city services. Meanwhile, the living conditions in these developments are unacceptable—inhumane, unsafe, and unfit for families, as pointed out by Grizzy’s Hood News.
This situation is the result of a broken system that has allowed out-of-town entities to exploit legal loopholes at the expense of Houston taxpayers and the dignity of residents.
I will not allow District G to be used as a dumping ground for mismanaged, tax-exempt developments that endanger public safety and defy the law. I am calling for the immediate removal of their tax-exempt status. These PFCs must be held accountable, and the residents in these areas deserve protection, stability, and respect.
My office is working closely with local leaders and state officials to bring transparency, enforcement, and reform to this system. Enough is enough—Houston deserves better.”
