Editor's note: This article and headline have been updated to reflect new comment from Canyon Village Apartments.
The city of Bryan has ordered remaining residents at Canyon Village Apartments to vacate the property after determining the complex poses serious health and safety risks. However, the complex's management disputes the closure and says significant improvements have been made under new ownership.
What's happening
According to a May 7 news release, city officials issued an order Feb. 23 requiring the apartment complex to be vacated, locked up and have utilities shut off after repeated violations of minimum housing standards.
The city said 18 of the complex's 145 units are currently occupied. Tenants are being notified and will have to move out by 5 p.m. June 8.
How we got here
According to the news release, the property has had a long history of safety concerns across multiple owners. Documented problems include sewage backups, pest infestations, structural deterioration, fire hazards, faulty plumbing, broken air conditioning systems and fire-damaged units.
As most units at the complex are already vacant, the city placed a utility hold on the property in July 2025 to prevent new tenants from moving in.
Since December 2023, the city said complaint reports had increased significantly, which prompted multiple inspections and meetings with property management. The city said property owners failed to bring the complex into compliance despite repeated notices and extended deadlines.
During a February 2026 hearing, the Building and Standards Commission determined the property owner had not submitted adequate repair plans, particularly addressing fire safety risks and recurring sewer issues. The owner was ordered to provide a complete compliance plan or face a mandatory closure.
The takeaway
The deadline to submit those plans or appeal the order has since passed.
While the city of Bryan said it works to support housing development and property investment, it also said resident health and safety must remain the priority.
Another point of view
Management for Canyon Village Apartments disputes the city's characterization of the property and says significant improvements have been made since new ownership took control following an August 2025 forecloures.
In a statement provided May 12 following Community Impact's request for comment, management said may of the cited problems happened under a previous owner, which they said deferred maintenance as financial issues mounted.
According to management, the mortgage holder installed new professional management after foreclosure, restored utilities, replaced appliances and air-conditioning systems, addressed resident concerns and invested more than $1 million in repairs and cleanup efforts.
Now managed by Better World Properties, Executive Vice President Michael D. Knight said tenants are living in safe and affordable housing that meets habitability standards.
Management also argued against the disputes on building code requirements tied to the property's condemnation status. They said city officials are requiring upgrades, which include the installation of fire sprinkler systems, to meet modern building codes before the order can be lifted. Because of this, Knight argued that is uncommon for apartment communities built in the 1970s.
One more thing
May 11 Google and Facebook posts say Canyon Village is under new management and will soon be leasing out units.
The city of Bryan told Community Impact on May 12 there were no updates to its position and reiterated that a utility hold preventing new rentals cannot be lifted until required repairs are completed and compliance is met.
