Residents of the Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner were given 48 hours to move out Tuesday after the city condemned the property due to safety concerns.
The decision comes after the property’s water infrastructure was found to be severely deteriorated, causing frequent pipe ruptures and unreliable water service. Additionally, the system no longer provides adequate water flow for fire suppression, posing a serious risk to residents.
Deteriorating roadways within the complex also hinder emergency vehicles from accessing the property, with one vehicle recently sinking into the ground and becoming stuck for hours. The city’s communications manager said that this incident highlighted the risk to residents if emergency services cannot reach them.
Residents were given until 6 p.m. Thursday to vacate. After the 48-hour period, residents will be able to return during the day to retrieve their belongings, but cannot stay overnight.
The order to move out spurred a massive effort by Aspen Place residents, people from the area and and local organizations to help with the move.
See the photos of what it took to get the residents of the complex moved out on short notice.
A group of volunteers helps people move out of Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the entire property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Leticia Rodriguez sat in her garage at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents were forced to move in 48 hours after the city condemned the entire apartment complex due to several dangerous factors. Rodriguez, a single mother originally from Chicago, is heartbroken to have to leave her community. “We’re a family.” Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Boxes pile up in the garage of Leticia Rodriguez at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents were forced to move in 48 hours after the city condemned the entire apartment complex due to several dangerous factors. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
John Leinweber sits on his porch and watches his neighbors move out at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents were forced to move in 48 hours after the city condemned the entire apartment complex due to several dangerous factors. Leinweber, a 10 year resident, said he was “disappointed, but not surprised.” Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Residents backed up their cars and moving trucks right up to the door at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property, and were given only 48 hours to do so. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Warning signs were posted on doors at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns including consistent water main damage, causing the water to be shut off for days. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Do not enter notices on a door at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Randy Reed, was a 15-year resident of Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Reed claimed in the last five years, he’s had to go without running water several times, with the outages lasting several days at a time. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Overflowing dumpers filled with residents belongings were seen throughout the complex at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Portable toilets were set i[ at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents were forced to use the “portapotties” whenever the water system failed in the complex, which residents say was often. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns including water main breaks and damage to the roadways inside the complex. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
A pile of belongings sit in the grass at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Volunteers set up tents with water, food, and supplies at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Cases of water for residents at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. People said the water has been shut off since Sunday. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Volunteers walk through one of several areas where residents could claim packing boxes at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Residents backed up their cars and moving trucks right up to the doors at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property, and were given only 48 hours to do so. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Road damage and massive potholes were present throughout the complex at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns including extreme damage to the roadways, hindering safe access for emergency vehicles. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
A group of volunteers from New Life Church help people move out of Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the entire property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
A man looks to volunteer to help people move at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns including extreme damage to the roadways, hindering safe access for emergency vehicles. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
A Do not enter notice is placed on a door at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents of the apartment complex were forced from their homes after the city condemned the property due to several safety concerns. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM.
Dominick Williams serves as a visual journalist for the Kansas City Star. His journalistic endeavors cover a diverse array of topics, notably sports, breaking news, human interest narratives, and culinary features.
