‘Give people false hope’: Stillwater apartment complex rebranding after complaints

STILLWATER, Okla. ( KFOR ) — A troubled Stillwater apartment complex plans to rebrand after complaints which News 4 has been following the past several months from tenants and businesses.

The change surrounds Apex on Perkins in Stillwater . In March, News 4 employees spoke with three small businesses who said the management company owed them hundreds of thousands of dollars for honest work.

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News 4 caught up with those same businesses in August who said they still had unpaid invoices and a fourth cleaning business owner who said payments to her slowed after the initial report in March.

"They haven't paid a dime," Tiffany Citizen with Absolute Carpet and Tile Restoration told News 4 in August. "They did reach out and try and set up a payment arrangement. However, they fell through on making their first payment."

Problems continued in August when News 4 was made aware of tenants moving into filthy apartments prior to an OSU off-campus student move-in day August 9. While Apex on Perkins is not directly affiliated with the university, students told News 4 at the time the experience wasn't helpful ahead of the start of the school year.

The move-in day included students waiting in long lines for several hours. Others were told to come back the next day. Some students who got their keys, found filthy or unfinished apartments; questioning why management would allow anyone to move-in and put deposits down on units like those.

"I walked in to find ceiling fans on the floor," said student Albony Bryles. "The fridge was in a box in there. It was trashed. There was mold, dirty water. It was, it was just really bad. It's not livable."

News 4 employees have been trying to get ahold of corporate managers since March and through our August reporting, to get an explanation regarding the unpaid debts and move-in experience. News 4 has also visited the complex and tried to speak to on-site managers and staff, but have been asked to leave.

Stillwater Police confirmed a response August 9 to the complex due to tenants who were unhappy with the process. A spokesperson also confirmed that its code enforcement division had received multiple complaints from tenants and that a letter was sent to property owners August 12 regarding several issues in common areas.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office confirmed to News 4 it had received multiple complaints regarding issues with Apex on Perkins, but could not comment on an potential investigation.

On September 19, tenants received a letter from Axela Management LLC. The letter identifies Axela as the new management team for Apex. It notes that the new management team has a mission to provide residents with the level of service and care they deserve.

The letter states that as part of a transition, Apex on Perkins will be rebranding to Milestone Stillwater, aiming for a fresh start.

"It was a very generic email saying that they didn't want to sweep anything under the rug," said Sue Northcutt, who co-signed her granddaughter's lease.

Northcutt says, her granddaughter and her roommates initially were given the keys to an apartment that was unlivable, but were then moved to another apartment that wasn't much better.

"We repaired beds, chairs, light fixtures, you name it," said Northcutt. "The whole place smelled like urine. The furniture in there, we've tried cleaning and it still smells like urine."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'A disaster': OSU students experience more move-in problems at Stillwater apartment complex

Northcutt said she also had lab testing done, which determined the presence of mold in the unit.

She says communication has been limited, with one employee admitting her phones were turned off due to a high volume of calls. Northcutt says she's worried the rebranding is only a band-aid on a much larger set of problems.

"I think all it will do is give people false hope that just happened to look at that name without knowing it's a rebrand. If they don't do the research, they won't know that it's the same company."

While Axela Management LLC says it's the new management company — replacing Apex Student Living, online records show that its parent company, Axela Group , already had a connection to Apex Student Living as part of a joint venture.

Former employees of Apex on Perkins also confirmed to News 4 that corporate managers involved in the letter sent to residents in September, were aware of problems two years ago.

News 4 reached out to Axela Management LLC for an interview Thursday. A News 4 employee was contacted by Director of Operations, Thomas Briggs, who declined a formal interview but answered a few questions on the record.

Briggs reiterated that the management company is committed to turning things around and said there is a trip planned to Stillwater on Monday, to get to the bottom of complaints from tenants and businesses who haven't been paid.

"They need to have boots on the ground here, and tackling the problems, a visit next week in Stillwater is not going to do it," said Northcutt.

News 4 has included a copy of the letter below. It includes a contact email address for Axela Management LLC but notes to expect a response within 24 business hours or three work days.

Milestone – Transition – Resident Letter (1) Download