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Residents of the Heatherton Apartment Complex gathered on Mar. 6 with members of Butler County Concern Citizens and a staff attorney from Legal Services Alabama to discuss ongoing issues with the complex. Residents described a lack of maintenance and communication as well as reports of arsenic contamination in the soil. 

Ongoing concerns were heightened in December 2024 after Section 8 voucher holders received a letter from the Greenville Housing Authority. The notice informed those residents that the apartments would be temporarily closed and all tenants required to relocate starting April 1.

“I was made aware of some of the things that were happening out here in Heatherton so I said, okay, let’s see what’s going on,” said Kenneth Crum, chairman of the Board of Butler County Concern Citizens. “So the next day we pitched a tent right out here and I sat and I talked with everyone, got names and numbers and contacted legal aid.

“We have to make a stand. We have to stand up and we have to do something when we see something is wrong, and this is wrong.”

Residents have voiced concerns about the handling of the situation, stating that only Section 8 voucher holders were formally notified, while others have been left in the dark about their housing status and possible relocation assistance.

Carolyn Dillard, a longtime resident of Heatherton Apartments, said she fears for her safety due to environmental concerns.

“Nobody has talked to me. Nobody has told me anything,” Dillard said.

Dillard recalled the passing of the apartment’s office manager, known as Miss Sally, who died  from lung cancer. The death raised questions among residents like Dillard about reports of arsenic found in the soil. 

“She had talked to me a few times and she didn’t understand how she got it because she had never drank, never smoked, you know, she didn’t hang around people that did any of that,” Dillard said.  “About a month or so after [her death], they started saying arsenic was in the soil out here and arsenic can cause cancer.”

Dillard also expressed frustration over the apparent disparity in how tenants are being treated. 

“To my knowledge, the people with Section 8, they have a government grant that is no longer going to pay for them to live here,” she said. “So, they’re the ones that the housing authority is placing somewhere else, but nobody’s placing us anywhere. Nobody’s trying to help us find other housing. Nothing.”

Lane Powell, a staff attorney with Legal Services Alabama, attended the meeting to inform residents of their rights and distribute letter templates to help them request the return of their security deposits.

“You are entitled to your security deposit because this apartment complex is being closed because of an environmental hazard,” Powell said. “It’s not anything that any one tenant did to deserve having their lease terminated.”

Powell also noted difficulties in obtaining clear answers from the Organized Community Action Program (OCAP), the non-profit involved in the transition process.

“So we’ve tried for probably about a month to contact OCAP and every time I would say what I was calling about, I would get transferred to a number that wouldn’t answer,” Powell said. “I finally got somebody and today they’ve committed that they’re going to return deposits and provide a stipend.

“I also understand that the local office is basically closed here and they’re only coming once a month to pick up the mail,” Powell added. “I asked for them to have a representative here tonight, so I don’t want to give you the impression that I’m representing the landlord, but they did say that no official notice had gone out on their behalf.”

OCAP, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income residents, held a public meeting on Nov. 7 at the Greenville Area Public Library to address concerns. During the meeting, OCAP’s Juan Henderson read a prepared statement regarding arsenic levels in the soil, citing an environmental risk assessment from TEA, Inc. that concluded by stating current and former residents were “highly unlikely” to face health concerns related to the finding.

Also at the November meeting, Isaiah Scott explained that OCAP has applied for an EPA Brownfields grant. If awarded, the grant would fund a cleanup project set to begin in October 2025, lasting an estimated 12 to 16 weeks, during which residents would not be able to live on the premises.

Scott assured attendees that OCAP is working with partners to help tenants secure relocation options and that a stipend may be provided to assist with the costs of moving. However, the lack of formalized details left many residents with unanswered questions.

Greenville City Councilman Jaeques Brown became aware of potential soil contamination issues at Heatherton Apartments on Feb. 15 after seeing reports on social media. 

“I saw it via social media, so I started calling,” Brown said. “I called our city inspector, but I also called some people that lived there… I gained multiple different answers.” Brown said he reached out to the property management company and was told that residents were not being forced to move but that some had been temporarily relocated for renovations. Despite conflicting reports, he emphasized his commitment to advocating for his constituents.

“There’s only so much that we can do from the city perspective when it concerns private property, but I believe in at least trying my best to help steer you in the direction of where you need to go,” Brown said. “I think Mr. Crum and I both want to see the welfare of the people taken care of so If this is something that ends up being major… let’s partner together… let’s work together and figure out how to bring solutions to the people.”

Despite the discussions, residents remain frustrated by the limited communication and lack of clarity on their future housing options. For many, the concern is not just about relocation assistance but also about possible health risks from contaminated soil.

At press time, representatives from OCAP and the Heatherton Apartments had not responded to requests for comments.