An administrative law judge pledged at a Wednesday hearing to fine the owners of Himbola Manor, an affordable housing complex hit with scores of local code violations. 

Administrative Adjudication Bureau Judge Stuart Paul Bowie told representatives of American Agape Foundation Inc., Himbola’s nonprofit owner, that fines would come but the amount depends on how quickly and adequately the complex is brought up to code. 

“I believe that your client has done a major disservice to the people that are living in the complex,” Bowie said, addressing Himbola’s attorney. “To allow the living conditions to get like this is completely unacceptable.” 

Bowie scheduled a follow-up hearing Sept. 18 and and asked LCG to reinspect Himbola on Sept. 16, in preparation for the check-up. 

Eric Pullen, Himbola’s attorney, said his client was waiting on mold inspection reports required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address any of the serious interior violations. He expects the reports on Sept. 4. 

In the meantime, Himbola’s management claims the majority of minor code violations have been addressed and the complex’s stairs are currently being repaired. 

Bowie says all these fixes are coming too late for the residents of Himbola. 

“Part of me wants to order that the whole place may be boarded up and get everybody out of there. I don’t know if I have the authority to do that over HUD at this point,” the judge said. 

Earlier this month, HUD notified Agape’s president, David Starr, that the nonprofit is in default of its contract for subsidized housing and threatened to pull funding if it didn’t execute a plan to fix the problems. HUD also ordered Agape to relocate residents of 10 Himbola apartments, Pullen said at the hearing. The attorney said as of now, only residents of five apartments have agreed to relocate.