Residents of the Meadows at Ferguson apartment complex in northeast Dallas are spending this week packing up their belongings and moving out ahead of a Wednesday deadline to vacate the troubled property.
The sprawling complex along Ferguson Road just south of LBJ Freeway contains more than 200 units and has long been plagued by crime reports and deteriorating conditions. Most units now sit empty as the final remaining tenants prepare to leave.
Donna Knipper a nine-year resident of the complex said the closure announcement came with little warning. She said management informed tenants in early August that the property would be shutting down and that everyone needed to leave on short notice.
The city of Dallas filed a lawsuit against the complex owners formerly known as Key City Capital back in June 2024 citing multiple code violations. That legal action came just one week after media coverage spotlighted tenant complaints about living conditions following storm damage to one of the buildings.
A court-appointed receiver named Tie Lasater of Lasater Capital took over management of the property in January. Lasater said the closure is being driven by the need to address extensive mold damage throughout the complex.
Lasater expressed concern about what could happen once the property is completely vacant. He warned that empty properties often attract criminal activity and homeless encampments creating new public safety challenges for the surrounding neighborhood.
Council member Paula Blackmon’s office confirmed that the receiver is covering moving expenses and returning security deposits to displaced tenants. However Knipper said she has not yet received those funds as she prepares to relocate to a new apartment in nearby Garland.
Despite the difficult circumstances Knipper said she has complicated emotions about leaving a place where she lived for nearly a decade and raised her children. She acknowledged that while the move is bittersweet she feels optimistic about her next chapter.
The city of Dallas did not provide an immediate statement about the future plans for the Meadows at Ferguson property. A spokesperson said city offices were closed Monday due to a scheduled furlough day making a response unavailable.
The fate of the property remains unclear as the receivership continues with no confirmed end date. Neighbors and community members are left wondering whether the site will be redeveloped or remain vacant once the last residents have gone.