Residents at downtown apartment building sue Indianapolis Housing Agency, property owner over safety concerns

Elderly and disabled residents of subsidized public housing at the Richard G. Lugar Tower Apartment Complex are embroiled in a multiyear conflict with administrator Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) and owner Lugar LP over safety and sanitation issues.

Two residents filed a lawsuit against Lugar Tower in June as contracted security services are set to expire.

The security services are part of an agreement from a previous court case also concerning the safety of residents. That agreement bound Lugar Tower to staff the premises with security personnel or IHA staff until this August.

The two residents — Sandra Barnes and Anthony Bright — argue that multiple issues have combined to create an unsafe environment, and that the loss of security services will make the situation worse. They claim that Lugar Tower has violated their tenant rights under Indiana law.

Barnes was a plaintiff in the two prior lawsuits against Lugar Tower.

In sworn statements, Barnes and Bright said they have witnessed violence and are aware of other threats and violence in the building. They said people who do not live at Lugar Tower enter the building, do drugs, and sleep in public areas. And they said they are aware of actual and attempted break-ins.

“All of this activity puts me in fear, often causes me not to leave my apartment, and causes stress that makes my health conditions worse,” Barnes said.

The two previous lawsuits centered on issues with in-person security, while also documenting consequences of alleged neglect.

“That neglect has forced them [Barnes and Bright] to live in filthy conditions — including months of unremedied human feces and urine in stairwells — and to endure a perpetually violent environment that included multiple shootings and stabbings and a refusal by their landlords to make their apartment doors safe from repeated break-ins,” the complaint stated.

Court records show the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department dispatched to the building 883 times from January 2023 to June 15, 2025.

These issues improved when the building had full-time, in-person security, Barnes said.

The two residents asked the court to prevent Lugar Tower “from withdrawing professional, in-person, full-time security” and to order administrators “to permanently remedy the safety and habitability issues” while monitoring Lugar Tower’s compliance.

Barnes stated that she spoke with several members of building security staff and property management, and said they agreed the housing complex needs full-time security. She said residents agreed with her and signed a petition for ongoing security.

But IHA argues that it’s not the agency’s or owner’s responsibility to staff the building with 24-hour in-person security.

Yvonda Bean, CEO of IHA and president of Lugar LP, said in a legal filing that Lugar Tower has been experiencing a budget shortfall that has prevented them from paying contracts to security contractor New Genesis Facility Management and Bradley Company, the property manager. The two contractors served notices to Lugar Tower administrators that they are terminating their services to the building.

The owner of New Genesis Facility Management wrote in its termination notice that it would continue providing security until 8 a.m. on July 1. The property management company will suspend its services on July 21, according to Bean.

“Any court order requiring Defendants to provide security at Lugar Tower would require Defendants to identify a security company willing to provide services free of charge indefinitely, or otherwise Defendants would be required to close Lugar Tower,” Bean said.

Bean noted that IHA is prohibited by federal law and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from redirecting funds from one housing property to another.

“Neither Lugar LP nor the Indianapolis Housing Agency wish to make a statement at this time,” said Charles Bush, an attorney for the two parties, in an email to WFYI.

Attorneys for the residents pointed out that in previous litigation, IHA also argued it couldn’t afford security services for the building. After the legal process of discovery loomed in that lawsuit, IHA settled with the residents. Lugar Tower was still able to pay for security services after that, according to the attorneys.

Judge Ian Stewart wrote that Lugar Tower did not provide sufficient evidence to show that the administrators are not able to pay for security services.

Additional maintenance issues have impacted residents’ health, the residents' attorneys said.

They highlighted that the 17-floor building has a single elevator that sometimes does not work. The lawsuit argues this prevents some residents from reaching health appointments, such as for dialysis or chemotherapy.

Bean said that IHA has taken steps to improve security, including installing new door enclosures for each outside door, a new call box, key fobs for elevators, deadbolt locks on all units, and security cameras.

She added that they are in the process of repairing the elevator, but are waiting on the delivery of maintenance parts. They expect the repairs will be finished by August.

Bean said IHA expects to take over property management given the current contractor’s termination notice, and when that happens, she said IHA staff will be present on the property during regular business hours.

The court partially granted a preliminary injunction on June 30. It required Lugar LP and IHA to continue providing security when staff is not present at the buildings, or extend the hours staff are present, until August 28.

Attorneys for Lugar Tower delayed a response to the complaint until August 11.

Contact WFYI reporter Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org.