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It felt like Spring on Autumnwood Tuesday -- but without the spring cleaning. The cleaning's been on hold for a decade or more.

"It's been a long time," said Gloria Henry.

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The Holiday Forest Apartments on Autumnwood are overrun with rats.

In Henry's neighborhood, a block over from Autumnwood, the lawns are mowed and bushes trimmed.

It's a neat, middle-class neighborhood.

But Autumnwood is like a postcard from Sarajevjo with New York City's rats.

"They're at least this long. Their tails are this long. Big wood rats," said Hattie Kelly, another nearby resident.

The City of Houston is overrun by aging properties that have lost their value -- from which owners are quick to walk away.

A version of that is the story of the Holiday Forest Apartments.

"I really don't know what's going on. We get conflicting stories when we ask about it," said Henry.

Hattie Kelly, Gloria Henry and Yolanda Garza have been living here for 32, 34 and 35 years and believe they've been let down.

The city's Jack Hanagriff concedes neighborhood protection had lost track of the complex.

"I don't know what condition it's in. I'll have to go take a look," Hanagriff said.

This place is building after building of burned-out, rotting, abandoned apartments.

There's still a light on in the office and the dogs are fed.

But the only good thing to come out of this is that the SWAT team had a place to practice at night.

Yolanda Garza may be frustrated, but she isn't fooled by the owner's permits and plans.

"Yeah, but they don't do nothing, Garza said.

About that, there is no argument.