A Colorado landlord has agreed to sell an apartment complex in Aurora that was allegedly taken over by a violent Venezuelan migrant gang.
According to the New York Post, the Aspen Grove apartment complex, owned by Zev Baumgarten, had become a hotbed of criminal activity linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.
The decision to sell comes after months of conflict between Baumgarten and the city of Aurora. Local officials accused the landlord of allowing the property to deteriorate into a "trash-ridden, gang-infested hellhole." In August, the complex was shuttered, displacing approximately 300 residents.
Baumgarten's company, Nome Partners LLC, attributes the dismal state of Aspen Grove to a takeover by Tren de Aragua. According to an investor who spoke to the Denver Post, police had been aware of the gang problem at the complex for nearly a year. The situation reportedly became so severe that staff abandoned the site, leading to a buildup of trash and overall deterioration of the building.
In June, attorneys representing the landlords sent letters to police and local officials, pleading for assistance. They claimed that Tren de Aragua had "forcibly taken control" of Aspen Grove. However, it wasn't until the city deemed the site a "criminal nuisance" that action was taken to evict the residents.
The agreement to sell, lease, or find a "similar disposition" for the complex is part of a settlement between Baumgarten's company and the city of Aurora. Additionally, Nome Partners LLC is required to cover the costs of cleaning up the site.
The issues at Aspen Grove are not isolated. Baumgarten owns another apartment complex in Aurora, Fitzsimons Place, which was also closed in August due to similar problems. Both properties reportedly faced code violations and had been overrun by migrant gang members.
A video that surfaced last month showed a group of armed individuals breaking into a unit at a separate Baumgarten-owned complex. This incident led to the landlord facing over 80 charges for building code violations, ranging from vermin infestations to power outages.
Prosecutors have pointed out that the problems at Fitzsimons Place date back to 2020, suggesting that the issues predate the recent influx of migrants to the area.
The situation in Aurora highlights the spillover effects of neighboring Denver's "sanctuary city" policy. Aurora, which opposed this policy, is now dealing with the consequences as criminal activity linked to Tren de Aragua spreads to its suburbs.
Residents of Aurora have reported shootouts and other criminal activities tied to the gang. The city, which has seen an influx of over 42,000 migrants due to Denver's policies, is now grappling with the fallout from this situation.
Baumgarten's legal troubles extend beyond the sale of Aspen Grove. The numerous code violations at his properties, some dating back several years, suggest a pattern of neglect that predates the current migrant crisis. This case may set a precedent for how cities deal with negligent landlords and properties that become hubs for criminal activity.
The situation in Aurora serves as a stark example of how immigration policies in one city can have far-reaching effects on neighboring communities. As Aurora continues to deal with the fallout from Denver's sanctuary city status, other suburbs may face similar challenges in the future. The forced sale of Aspen Grove may be just the beginning of a larger effort to address these issues in the region.
