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The Edge of Lowry Complex in Aurora Permanently Closed

AURORA| The Edge of Lowry Complex. (Picture/El Comercio de Colorado)

ALL RESIDENTS RELOCATED AFTER MONTHS OF VIOLENCE

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The Edge of Lowry apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, was permanently shut down on February 18, following months of reports of crime and inhumane living conditions. The decision to close the complex was made by the Aurora Municipal Court in early January, after authorities confirmed that the site had become a hub of violence controlled by a faction linked to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization.

The breaking point for authorities came in December 2024, when two Venezuelan residents were kidnapped and tortured within the complex by alleged members of this gang. This incident was the culmination of a series of crimes, including extortion and bribery of other tenants, which had already been documented in August of that year through a viral video. In that footage, armed individuals were seen storming one of the apartments, generating national and international alarm.

Following these events, the city of Aurora requested an emergency order for the complete closure of the complex, which was approved by Judge Shawn Day in early January. In his ruling, the judge described the situation at The Edge of Lowry as “an imminent threat to public safety.” He authorized the hiring of a company to manage the transition leading up to the final closure of the complex, which took place on February 18.

Efforts to Relocate Residents

Since the closure order, a relocation plan was implemented for the remaining tenants. Aurora authorities, in collaboration with Arapahoe County and community organizations, provided assistance to move residents to new housing. However, a source revealed that “many of them [the residents who remained after the closure was ordered] chose to receive help only from nonprofit groups, such as Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND).”

The same source added that “these immigrants feared that accepting government assistance could expose them to potential issues with immigration authorities.” Meanwhile, Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) confirmed that it successfully relocated 28 families from the complex, in addition to assisting eight others from other properties managed by CBZ Management, the company that owned The Edge of Lowry. The organization reported that “a significant portion of the relocation funds came from community donations, as the city did not allocate sufficient resources for a dignified relocation.”

Deplorable Conditions and Abandonment of the Complex

The final days before closure were marked by extreme deterioration. Reports surfaced of water outages, broken pipes, and a lack of heating during the peak of winter. Some residents reported that when they attempted to collect water from other buildings, they were intimidated by the police, further increasing tension within the community.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain described The Edge of Lowry as “a cancer for the community,” stating that the complex’s management allowed crime to flourish unchecked. CBZ Management, the building’s owner, unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the closure, arguing that local authorities had ignored security issues in the area.

A Landmark Case in Aurora

The closure of The Edge of Lowry marks the end of one of the most critical episodes in Aurora’s fight against organized crime. The complex was not only plagued with housing code violations but had also become a haven for criminal activity, endangering both tenants and the surrounding community.

Despite the relocation of residents, questions remain about the future of the property. Meanwhile, community organizations are calling for increased oversight and support for affected individuals, who, after months of uncertainty, are now trying to rebuild their lives away from a place that became synonymous with violence and neglect.

The Edge of Lowry Complex in Aurora Permanently Closed

POST IN X| American First Legal report. (Screenshot X)

The Edge of Lowry Complex in Aurora Permanently Closed

Recent Findings

A recent investigation conducted by America First Legal (AFL), a Washington, D.C.-based organization, revealed that the nonprofit Papagayo, responsible for migrant relocation, collaborated with CBZ Management to house Venezuelan migrants in complexes like The Edge of Lowry. However, these agreements were made without proper background checks on tenants, which facilitated the infiltration of Tren de Aragua members within the migrant community.

Additionally, the lack of coordination between the involved organizations and Aurora authorities contributed to the deterioration of security in the complex and its surroundings. AFL further determined, through public records requests, that Tren de Aragua’s activities in Aurora date back to at least June 2023. Despite warnings and red flags, neither Aurora police nor any other law enforcement agency in Colorado took effective preventive measures to counteract the criminal organization’s influence.

According to AFL, this inaction allowed the situation to escalate to the point where the definitive closure of The Edge of Lowry became necessary, leaving numerous families displaced. Moreover, the progressive deterioration of living conditions in the apartment complex led nearby residents to feel that their safety was under threat. Many of them expressed through various media channels that they had felt as if they were living in a nightmare in recent months.