Sewage, mold and rodents found during Newark Garden Spires complex raid

NEWARK, N.J. (WABC) -- Officials found deplorable conditions after they raided the Academy Spires complex Tuesday morning.

The complex is Section 8 housing and is located at 175 First St. in Newark. It consists of two high rises and commercial properties. But the buildings, officials said provide inhumane and rat-infested living conditions. There were a mouse and rat droppings, as well as raw sewage found during the raid.

There also was an unlicensed food store on the ground floor that officials said was selling expired and rotten food. It was shut down by the health department Tuesday after a dead mouse was found on the floor.

Officials also reported that it was selling outdated food to residents, and that one person tried to return baby formula outdated in 2011. When the customer opened the container, it was filled with maggots.

In one unit, faucets could not be turned off, and there was mold bulging from the walls.

One resident called the conditions, "horrible." "What is it like? Hell, hell, I want out. I want out," she said.

One 10th story apartment is a den of busted walls, and despair for the mother of three who says the conditions are deplorable.

"I want out, but I'm on the waiting list for eight years for a three-bedroom, and this is where I'm stuck at," said Shonette Parker.

The Garden Spires high rise complex has 446 residents. Most are on section 8, needing federal assistance to pay rent but they still don't see why they have to live in such a terrible place.

"They're infested with flies, mice, people got roaches. There's bedbugs here, thank God I don't have 'em," said resident Sky King.

The complex has been the site of a lot of the city's concerns because of shootings, drug busts, animal cruelty and a poor living standard.

A store on the ground floor of one of the apartment buildings apparently adds to the misery. A dead mouse was found on the floor, and now flies inhabit the spot where meat is trimmed and weighted.

Inspectors are looking at outdated food and checking the health violations. The basement is disgusting.

"There's a tremendous amount of rat droppings, which indicate that this place is infested with rats and mice, which seeps not only through this store but also has some resonancy in the building," said Patrick Council, director of Neighborhood and Recreation Services.

Once in the basement, black mold covers the walls where food was stored and a pipe is leaking foul sewage water. The health and business licenses have been revoked and the store had been shut down and could face fines of $5 to 50,000 for not being up to code.