MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Serenity Towers closed in May after years of deplorable living conditions, and a court hearing was held on Tuesday to discuss plans for the building.
“I am 100% positive that something will be done and that it will be moved in the right direction, now, how we do it, we’re kinda open to what that looks like going forward,” said Calissa Shaw, City of Memphis special attorney.
“The code enforcement process is like a game of wackamole, and you get one thing making progress and another thing pops up,” said Will Gibbons, Code Enforcement Prosecutor.
While the city says they are looking for someone to buy the property and do agree there is a need for affordable housing, this site might not fit the bill.
“The city needs affordable housing, the city needs good affordable housing, but what we know about serenity towers, what we know about those elevators, what we know about the pest control issues, it’s really hard for us at this moment to see that that’s a possibility, to think that rehabilitation is a possibility,” said Shaw.
The city will be revisiting the case on August 5.