In late January, residents received another notice increasing their rent again, bring it up to $595, Thompson said. West. These are very community-minded folks, Thompson said. The management company has failed to maintain roads and street lights at the property, according to the lawsuit. It says the nearest comparable neighborhood, a site in eastern Larkspur, charges about $2,000 for similar accommodations.. Ultimately, it will be up to a judge whether the sale to Harmony Communities is approved. Ms. Jaymie Buchholz, Customer Service Specialist, Ms. Jan Scarborough, Marketing Coordinator. Those notices, the company said, include statutorily required language, but they are not eviction notices. Additionally, Harmony Communities allegedly didnt maintain the common areas at the mobile home park in good condition. I even have proof that she accidentally admitted fault and said she printed wrong brochure but seems like she did not realize that that's the brochure she circled & put into our contract that states which house we are getting. She's representing residents at The Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park in a lawsuit filed in 2020 against Harmony Communities that cites a 32 increase. DocketAttorney, Sanjay Bansal, retained for Donna Braxton . All rights reserved, Burnum MHP, Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Shawnigan Lake MHP, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Timberland MHP, Ladysmith, British Columbia, Foothills Mobile Home Park, Oroville, California, Village of North Oak, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indian Trail North , Burtchville, Michigan, Hanwell Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Kellys Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Maritime Estates, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Nethervue Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Edgewood Grove Estates, Somerset, Pennsylvania, Mill Creek Estates, New Holland, Pennsylvania, Gaslite Manor MHC, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Hearing regarding: Jury Trial Assignment (est 7-10 days), set for 07/25/2022 at 1:30 PM before Hon. Do your own research and see all the red flags yourself. He said the case established that the park is a mobile home park subject to the rent control ordinance.. 6653 Embarcadero Drive, Ste C Stockton, CA 95219. Harmony Communities, the property management company, delivered a notice to tenants July 25 stating the owner's intent to close the park at 742 Francisco Blvd. She represents a group of about a dozen residents who are opposed to the sale and the rules that Harmony Communities plans to enforce, including not allowing dogs without leashes, requiring residents to clear the space between trailers of appliances, canopies, and other items. They speak Mixteco. The just-purchased . A bar lauded for downtown Fresno revitalization has sold to new owners. With the batching, the board approved three GPA projects on July 25 for a total of 3,937 new housing units in the county. Attorneys representing them on that are working hard with, you know, community partners and the County of Fresno to try and obtain funding to help residents purchase the park in a way that can bring the rent down, Thompson said. Receipt number 597503. Insurance Before the most recent increase it was at 72% bump. I noticed the model variation was wrong and voiced my concern. I visted the house every day as it is STILL currently being built. Company officials noted the $595 monthly rent is below market value for the area and includes no additional charges water, sewer and garbage services, which say are collectively worth about $100 per month. CRLA, Inc. is not responsible for any third-party content that may be accessed through this site. This case was filed in Fresno County Superior Courts, Fresno County BF Sisk Courthouse located in Fresno, California. They didn't even spend 2 seconds trying to keep us as customers. Why is this public record being published online? They also said the park authorities refuse to provide notices in Spanish. If you do not agree with these terms, then do not use our website and/or services. Banking and Finance The lawsuit is nothing more than an attempted shakedown in retaliation for not continuing to provide below market rents. BBB is here to help. Additionally, residents said the company refuses to provide any documents in Spanish, which their attorneys says is required by law, according to the lawsuit. e.preventDefault(); Public Records Policy. My TERRIBLE agent, Ana Anita M********** told me to not worry about it. San Jose Could Face a Lawsuit Over its Rent Freeze Summons issued and filed. Pedestrian hit and killed by train in Fresno. And a notice given to a resident at Shady. A meeting was held in May 2022 by the CPUC to hear the matter. I have tried to appeal to the builder to no avail. For only $59 for one 1-year you will receive the Print edition along with EVERYTHING The Business Journal has to offer digitally, PLUS you will have unlimited 24- hour a day access to view articles at. According to a new federal lawsuit in Wisconsin, a rogue board member of Harmony "and unknown persons acting in concert with him," has led efforts to break away, and take many Society assets. Defendants Harmony Communities, Inc. and Mathew Davies' Answer to Complaint by Donna Braxton (amount over $25,000) filed by Davies, Matthew; Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation. Thompson described the rules as impermissible, and said the management company issued notices to residents in violation of those rules. Currently the park is losing money on an ongoing basis. In late January, residents received another notice increasing their rent. }); (209) 932-8747 Harmony Communities Profile and History Based in Stockton, California, Harmony Communities owns and operates thirty premier manufactured home communities in California and Oregon, and sees tiny homes as both an affordable and functional solution to California's housing crisis. Many of the 60 families at Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park near Chestnut and Lincoln avenues have lived there for well over a decade, drawn by the lower cost of living. Judge: Ross, Roger. They are still facing rent. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Harmony Communities, the Stockton-based owner of the Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park in Fresno County, have raised rents nearly 100% for some residents since purchasing the park four years ago. I went back to Anita and she only wanted to argue that I was at fault and she did nothing wrong. While the management has already increased rent for 2021, any further rent increases must be approved through the hearing process provided for in San Rafael Municipal Code.. In the deposition process, it came out that the rent increase is part of Harmony Communities business practice to bring the property up to market rates, said Thompson. Some residents believe the rental increases that occurred shortly after the complaint was filed were retaliatory. Members of El Grupo Comunitario own their homes and have lived in the park for years or decades renting the space where their home is located. Donna Braxton vs Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation et al. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Now there's a plan to the sell Trails End to property company Harmony Communities. Replacing a laundry room or a lamp post may be expensive, but usually those rent increases will be temporary until the improvement has been paid off. The city and the residents say otherwise. San Rafael, low-income tenants resist rent, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), San Rafael, low-income tenants resist rent hikes at site, Former owner of central Marin City market dead at 80, Golden Gate Village residents to benefit from $2 million fund, Marin environmental groups seek redo of Sausalito school creek plan, Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJ's in San Rafael adds to growing numbers, Novato man accused of Marin drugstore robberies, New San Rafael caf and bakery a sweet addition, Belvedere residents sound alarm over coyote danger, Housing plan near San Quentin clears environmental study, Larkspur man pleads not guilty to murder attempt, Marin History Museum board appoints new director, Marin County rain gives way to cold, clear break, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Through their lawsuit, El Grupo Comunitario seeks reasonable rents, better living conditions and security in the park, and a stop to the harassment, discrimination, and intimidation of residents. Many of Harmonys actions violate Californias laws protecting mobile home park residents and provide for thousands of dollars in penalties against bad actor park owners for each violation. Finally, one place to get all the court documents we need. Hearing Type: Case Management Conference; Court Room: 11B; Result: Held; Judge: Robert T. Waters; Participant: Donna Braxton (Plaintiff); Participant: Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation (Defendant); Participant: Matthew Davies (Defendant). The lawsuit claims Harmony Communities increased rent by 32% soon after taking over the property. The first hearings were supposed to begin this month, but both parties agreed to a six month-extension. Visit CRLA.org for all our latest news & information. Mark Adams is the court-appointed receiver at Trails End and insists that Harmony Communities was picked for a reason. Through a network of regional offices and cross-cutting programs, CRLA provides legal services to tens of thousands of low-income California residents annually. RELATED: Fresno woman involved in mobile home fire calling for change. One of Thompsons clients is 80 years old, making $800 a month and paying $700 in rent. Case Details Parties Documents Dockets Case Details Mason said other tenants are more hesitant to speak out than she is, fearing retaliation in the form of even steeper rent hikes. After an argument in her office she stated she is going to do nothing to make it right so me and my fiance drove down to corporate to talk to the agent's manager, Colleen C******, who always just wanted to argue. The rules include requiring residents to take down Christmas lights and remove their boots from porches outside their homes, according to Thompson, who noted residents are primarily farmworkers who typically leave their boots outside so they dont track pesticides inside their homes. Civil Case Cover Sheet filed by Braxton, Donna. We dont want them to increase the rent again because they are increasing it significantly.. We want justice for all of this, and we want things to get resolved, one resident told The Bee in Spanish. At a time when quality affordable housing is disappearing fast, it is our mission to expand options for economical and beautiful housing in the states and communities in which we operate. Harmony chooses the color residents can paint their houses, the material, color, and height of their fences, and where air conditioners can be installed. Action Type: Case Management Statement; Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Case Management Statement filed by Braxton, Donna. DocketProof of Service of Summons as to Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation served on 11/16/2020 by Substituted Service. DocketHearing regarding: Case Management Conference , set for 05/04/2021 at 8:30 AM before Hon. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketRequest for Dismissal filed by Braxton, Donna. The lawsuit, filed Dec. 19 in Fresno County Superior Court, involves numerous residents at the mobile home park, only identified collectively as Grupo Comunitario De San Miguel Cuevas. San Miguel Cuevas is the town in Oaxaca where theyre originally from. A complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that the increases were not in line with actual costs. Case Cover Sheet filed by Braxton, Donna red flags yourself through this site served on 11/16/2020 by Service! 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