The city filed the lawsuit in January 2022 in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
“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,” City Manager Quincy Pope stated in a news release issued Wednesday evening.
The Trotwood Fire Department was called around 4 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a fire at one of the buildings at the complex.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about two hours, Trotwood Fire Chief Richard Haacke said Thursday.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
Crews from multiple departments were dispatched to a large fire in September 2021 at the complex. Responding crews saw heavy flames and smoke. The cause was listed as undetermined, according to an incident report included with the city’s lawsuit.
Two huge apartment complexes that almost touch each other in Trotwood are a microcosm of local tornado recovery. The 430-unit Woodland Hills is the largest damaged property still standing. Even with security on site, before Wednesday two of the 19 buildings had already been torched. On the other side of a tree line, Westbrooke Village has been fully renovated and reoccupied.
Trotwood officials say the net-unit deficit from the loss of Woodland Hills still affects the city and prevents people from moving back.
The judge in the civil suit has given Woodland Hills until April 17 to submit an abatement plan. Once a plan is submitted, the city will be able to challenge the scope of work and proposed time line if it is not agreed on, according to the city.
“The city’s desire is for a responsible developer to purchase the Woodland Hills property and redevelop it,” Pope said.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
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