Tenants Not Happy With How Management Is Handling Renovations
Karen Allen is a resident at Leland Park Apartments in Orcutt, managed by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HACSB).
Allen told Reporter Cory James she is not happy with her living situation because of renovations that are taking place outside of her building.
“Getting out of the shower, going into my bedroom and getting dressed and have someone peering in at me is scary,” Allen said.
Wednesday morning there was a three-story scaffold outside of Allen’s and other residents’ building.
Allen said it has been there for weeks. She and other residents did not think they would be there during renovation because of notice sent by management stating that they would be relocated while construction was taking place.
“It stated that tenants would be temporary relocated. So we are here with all of the noise, all of the construction, and it’s unsafe,” said Allen.
Jenny Grimsley with HACSB said it is their policy to minimize tenants’ displacement.
Grimsely expressed one way that is done is by “relocating [tenants] when it’s necessary to relocate them and that’s when construction is taking place inside their unit.”
Still residents, especially those with children, are concerned that their environment is not safe.
“Before it wasn’t that loud. But now they are working on my unit while I’m in it, and I don’t think it’s fair and safe for my kids,” Angelica Benton said.
