Trotwood city officials fighting to have apartment complex hit by Memorial Day tornadoes demolished

TROTWOOD — An abandoned Trotwood apartment complex could soon be demolished.

Trotwood city officials announced Wednesday that the city is currently in legal negotiations with the owners of Woodland Hills Apartments.

“The City of Trotwood wants to see the property demolished and cleaned up without further delay,” the city said.

The apartment complex, located on Macduff Drive, was hit by the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes.

Firefighters were called to the apartment complex early Wednesday morning for heavy smoke, but when they arrived they found a fully involved apartment fire.

In 2021, crews responded to the vacant apartments on a similar call.

>>PREVIOUS REPORT: Crews extinguish large vacant apartment fire in Trotwood

The fire is no surprise to Sidney Walker, who has been working security for the complex for the past three years. He believes people seeking shelter caused the fire.

Walker told News Center 7 he is consistently chasing people off of the property.

“I’m always catching people,” he said. “It’s hard to keep them out.”

Walker also wants the apartments to disappear.

“Tear it down and start from the bottom up,” he said.

The city says a judge has given Woodland Hills until April 17 to submit an abatement plan.

“The city’s desire is for a responsible developer to purchase the Woodland Hills property and redevelop it,” the city said. “Today’s fire at the abandoned property is an example of why the city is fighting so hard in court to get this situation mitigated as soon as possible.”

This is not the only abandoned property the city wants demolished. The city manager told News Center 7 there are about 30 other residential structures they plan to take down.

News Center 7 will continue updating this story as we learn more.

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