Boise: Glenbrook Apts. remodel under way without permits

City of Boisespokesperson Mike Journee says there were red flags around what's been going on at the Glenbrook Apartments during construction.(Photo: Mary Kienzle/KTVB)

BOISE - Hundreds were forced out of the Glenbrook Apartments in Boise last fall - the experience leaving those tenants confused and frustrated.

"One day I discovered I am without home," former Glenbrook tenant and Iraqi refugee Tamara Al Thanoon told KTVB.

Many refugees were among those told to leave their homes and given 30 days notice to find a new place to live in a city they were still unfamiliar with. It was because the property owners were going to remodel the apartment complex and raise rent by hundreds of dollars.

RELATED: Hundreds of refugees forced out of Boise apartments

But KTVB found out on Friday that those plans were just halted by the city of Boise.

City spokesperson Mike Journee says there were red flags around what's been going on at the apartment complex during construction. When officials came out to inspect the work earlier this week, they found out a lot of the projects under way didn't have proper permits- which is illegal.

Projects like fixing outdoor staircases, replacing doors and hardware and work on plumbing fixtures all require permits from the city, Journee said, but several of those projects didn't have the proper permitting.

"They weren't legally allowed to continue work on them without permits," Journee added.

So the city put up signs on windows at the Glenbrook apartment complex a few days ago, requiring that the contractor stop work on all buildings.

"Obviously it's something we take very seriously because it's very important that buildings be up to specification," Journee told KTVB.

We reached out to Glenbrook Apartment owner Caran Daly about the lack of proper permitting, but she said she did not want to talk about it and hung up the phone.

Journee said the city hasn't determined recourse at this time but says those involved with the property could possibly be fined for the permitless work.

KTVB also tried getting a hold of Verity Property Management, which controls the complex, but did not hear back on Friday.

"They get a very bad reputation," Al Thannoon said. "I am not thinking to rent from them again."

Al Thannoon says being forced out of their home was traumatic for her and her family.

"It is like a mess in my mind. I'm new at this country."

She didn't know what a notice to vacate meant - or why she was being told to leave the apartment after only a year.

"It looked like I'd been a refugee twice," Al Thannoon added.

When I told her that the city says her former apartment complex is being remodeled and redesigned without proper permitting, she said that is "unbelievable" and she's relieved to be where she is now.

"I found out finally this great apartment. It's very good and better than the old one," she said.

The city of Boise says they're monitoring the situation but haven't determined exactly what action they'll take next. There was no one out working on the apartments Friday evening, but again, because our crews couldn't get a hold of the property owner or manager we couldn't get an answer on whether they would follow the order on the postings.

Copyright 2016 KTVB