MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee City Attorney's Office has filed two major public nuisance actions targeting a network of more than 200 residential properties associated with Highgrove Holdings Management, LLC, and other related LLCs.
According to the city attorney's office, the lawsuits allege widespread property neglect, code violations, vacancy, and unpaid property taxes that have negatively impacted Milwaukee neighborhoods.
City Attorney Evan Goyke said he does not trust the landlord, David Tomblin of Highgrove Holdings Management LLC, to fix the issues, prompting the city to step in.
Watch: Milwaukee city attorney files major public nuisance enforcement actions
The lawsuits allege that the defendants' ownership and management of the properties resulted in those issues, and they've created public nuisances under Wisconsin law. According to complaints, the properties have been subject to repeated law enforcement actions and ongoing noncompliance with city building and zoning codes.
The Milwaukee City Attorney's Office says the city has also joined an existing mortgage foreclosure lawsuit filed against Highgrove by US Bank. US Bank alleges that Highgrove has failed to repay its loan and is seeking a receiver to protect over 80 additional properties.
“Highgrove came to Milwaukee with a business model built on extraction. They promised to rehabilitate distressed properties while delivering returns to investors,” said City Attorney Evan Goyke. “What they actually delivered was neglect in the form of vacant buildings, mounting code violations, and unpaid tax bills. The public can no longer bear the burdens of Highgrove neglect and today we are holding them accountable.”
According to the city attorney's office, Highgrove Holdings marketed Milwaukee to investors as a high-yield opportunity, but the city alleges profits came at the expense of maintenance, compliance with property taxes, and the tenants living in the properties.
The lawsuits ask the court to put Highgrove's properties under a receivership. This means an outside entity would collect rent and make repairs if the issues are not fixed in the next 60 days.
"This is one of the largest nuisance actions that the city has ever filed in terms of the number of properties," Goyke said.
The city hopes to hold Highgrove Holdings accountable and send a message.
"We're doing this because it's right for the 200-plus properties and we're doing it because we want to send a message to other property owners in this community that we're paying attention," Goyke said.
Tenants said the conditions they are living in are unbearable, with homes boarded up and deteriorating. Milwaukee neighbors and leaders are calling for accountability from the out-of-state landlord.
"We are evicting you! We are evicting you," said Kiante Shields, a Sherman Park resident and organizer with the group Tenants United.
"I see squalor, I see shame, I see exploitation," Shields said about the homes owned by Highgrove Holdings Management.
"We have a bubble in the ceiling because of the rain alone. It's going to break in soon. There's mold in the house, the windows are very old," tenant Ishon Arnold said.
"I've been washing my clothes in the tub for six years," tenant Ebony Martin said.
TMJ4's Ryan Jenkins talked on the phone with Tomblin Thursday. He did not want to comment on the lawsuits at this time.
This story was reported on-air by Ryan Jenkins and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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