Update: IPG has agreed to meet with the tenants this week, according to United Renters for Justice on March 17.

Tenants representing multiple apartment buildings in Whittier managed by Investment Property Group held a press conference about deteriorating living conditions, eviction notices, and delivered a list of demands to property management on Thursday.

Longtime tenants of Whittier apartment buildings that began to be managed by IPG in 2022 say that their living conditions have been negatively impacted since. IPG is a Utah-based property management company that manages multiple properties in Minneapolis including Aldrich Avenue Apartments, Greenway Apartments, Blaisdell Apartments, and Lyndy Apartments.

“It has decreased our quality of life here,” Michael Faruq, a tenant of 2119 Pillsbury Ave. for 10 years, said. “We know how things were done before they took over.”

Faruq said that for a month between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, a door to the building’s garage was unsecured. Faruq said management told them a new door was ordered but no temporary resolution was offered.

“Security is not a concern for them,” Faruq said.  

Tenants had to take on security themselves, including Valerie Mack, a 69-year-old tenant at 2119 Pillsbury Ave.

“I shouldn’t have to play security,” Mack said during Thursday's press conference. Mack also said she cleans the building’s garage herself. "Yes you do," a fellow tenant said in agreement.

Valarie Mack, right, speaks to fellow tenants outside of 2200 Blaisdell Ave. on March 13. Photo by Melody Hoffmann

A tenant at 2312 Blaisdell Ave. for 12 years, Manuel Alverez, said he has had issues with heat and leaks in his unit that haven’t been fixed. His building also has unsecured building entrances.

“When IPG took over these buildings is when we started to have all these issues,” Alvarez said. “We need more safety at the entrance of the building. There are people coming in and out of the building at night.”

Alvarez said the lack of safety has decreased the sense of community in the building, a feeling iterated by other tenants.

“We loved our community,” Yasmin Isse, a tenant at 2119 Pillsbury Ave. said. “We used to feel safe.”

Tenants from IPG buildings walked a list of demands over to the property management office at 2200 Blaisdell Ave. on Thursday morning. Tenants are demanding a meeting with management, a 24-hour maintenance line, security at their buildings, repairs fixed in their units, and consistent communication from management about rent payments and repairs.

Blaisdell Apartments property manager Tina Johnson, far back right, accepts a letter of demands from IPG tenants on March 13. Photo by Melody Hoffmann

Eviction notices impacting some tenants appear to be a result of inconsistent accounting practices on behalf of IPG. According to Mack, her own rent payments records do not match what IPG says she owes. Tenants are not withholding rent as part of their demands.

Tenants, organizing with United Renters for Justice, have given IPG until March 20 to respond to their demands.

IPG has not responded to Southwest Voices for comment.  

The Minnesota Attorney General’s office reached an agreement with IPG in 2023 after tenants complained about exorbitant utility bills being added onto their rent, leading to evictions.

This story was originally published on March 17 at 9:17 a.m. and updated at 1:53 p.m.