Bond Hill Tenants will get relocation aid

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http://www.cincypost.com/2002/jul/27/ohmeadows072702.html

Tenants will get relocation aid

By Osborne, Post staff reporter

A company managing a large Bond Hill apartment complex that wanted to evict

hundreds of low-income tenants and close the facility has agreed to offer

them relocation aid. Shortly before a hearing Friday afternoon in Hamilton

County Common Pleas Court, attorneys for the tenants reached a compromise

with the company managing the Huntington Meadows complex.

Under the deal, tenants who move by Sept. 3 will receive $500, as well as

have their security deposits returned. Also, tenants who agree to move won't

have to pay August rent.

Michigan-based Habitat America, which is the court-appointed receiver

temporarily managing the property after owners filed for bankruptcy, will

pay the money.

Pieples, the Legal Aid attorney for the tenants, said the settlement is

fair because Habitat is receiving some tax credits for assuming temporary

management of the site.

" This is not great, but at least it's something for the tenants, " Pieples

said. " The tenants needed time to move and they needed money to move.

" It's a terrible situation, " he added. " I don't think anyone is happy. "

About 560 people live at the dilapidated apartment complex.

Earlier this month, Habitat asked a judge to evict the tenants by Aug. 31

after a study revealed possible health hazards due to mold, raw sewage and

other contaminants.

Habitat said it would cost $10.5 million to correct problems at the

financially troubled complex.

Habitat likely will seek a court order to evict any tenants who want to

remain, Pieples said. That would probably take at least until September.

" I don't think any of us have any idea of how many people will opt to take

the deal, but I suspect many of them will, " Pieples said. " As we've stated

all along, though, we believe tenants have a right to stay on the property

if they choose. "

Attorneys for Habitat did not return phone calls Friday.

The complex is attractive to many poor people because of low rents.

A three-bedroom town home, for example, rents for $550 per month at

Huntington, hundreds of dollars cheaper than at many other complexes.

Huntington Meadows is privately owned, but more than $20 million in federal

funds and $4 million in city funds were used in the past few years for an

unsuccessful attempt to renovate the site.

The complex's previous owner, Huntington Meadows Limited Partnership, hasn't

made a mortgage payment since May 2001, and the mortgage holder has filed

for foreclosure.

During the owner's financial troubles in the past two years, many tenants

said the complex has fallen into disrepair. They complained of roach and rat

infestation, plumbing problems, leaking walls and roofs and sewage backups.

Also, tenants said drug dealing has become common at the complex.

Habitat recently began hiring off-duty police to patrol the development,

which tenants said has driven away the dealers.

With 1,169 units, Huntington Meadows - formerly known as Hillcrest Gardens -

is one of the largest non-subsidized, low-income apartment complexes in

Cincinnati.

Because of the ongoing problems, many tenants have left and only about 560

units are occupied.

Publication Date: 07-27-2002