OMAHA — A sprawling northwest Omaha apartment complex that was shuttered Monday due to “widespread” and “dangerous” conditions had passed a city inspection about a year earlier.

That October 2021 inspection of Legacy Crossing focused on a random sample of 61 apartments generated by a computer program, and the city said those violations were corrected.

Since then, city officials said, the property deteriorated rapidly and 37 housing code complaints from tenants were opened. Half of the 37 apartments had to be vacated, city officials said, due to violations that included no heat, collapsed ceilings and water-damaged electrical wiring.

Those conditions, along with others including a Dec. 15 arson fire and the owner’s refusal to repair violations, led to the city’s evacuation notice Monday to residents of about 165 occupied apartments.

City officials did not say the number of people actually displaced, but said less than 44% of 408 apartments in 17 buildings were filled with tenants.

“Six days before Christmas makes this a very difficult situation,” said Mayor Jean Stothert, adding that the city acted to prevent possible tragedy.

Legacy Crossing near 105th and Fort Streets is owned by a Colorado company, Vukota Real Estate, that had a preliminary agreement to sell the complex. The buyer backed out prior to closing, however, and fire and housing inspectors said that an owner’s agent told them the owner did not plan any fixes or additional investment.

The city was notified Thursday that foreclosure proceedings were underway.

Representatives from Heartland Family Service have stepped in to provide assistance to tenants as they try to relocate.

Several donors have provided $250,000 to assist tenants with relocation costs and unexpected expenses.

The Omaha Community Foundation has created a relief fund.

Joanie Poore, chief executive officer of the Omaha Housing Authority, said only eight of the apartments were being assisted through a low-income rental voucher program. The rest apparently were paying market-rate rents that city officials believed ranged from in the high $700s to up to $1,300.

If displaced residents met eligibility requirements, their being homeless would boost them to priority status in seeking an available public housing unit, Poore said.

This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. It is part of the national nonprofit States Newsroom. Find more at nebraskaexaminer.com.