2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. Complaint Unlimited Civil (over $25,000) filed by Braxton, Donna. Recent California laws offering rent control and just-cause eviction protections dont apply to mobile home parks, she said. And a notice given to a resident at Shady. Rent increases are done on an annual basis and are generally in line with inflation. He said the case established that the park is a mobile home park subject to the rent control ordinance.. Residents have now retained an attorney to negotiate a purchase of the property. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. Not only were they told, they were also given several bank statements which clearly showed a monthly payment to the **** The lender declined the loan. To receive the latest information about new communities, available properties and exciting changes to the communities we manage, send us an email by CLICKING HERE. In 2015, she won the Outstanding Journalist of the Year Award from the Nevada Press Association, and also received the Community Service Award. By continuing to use this website, you agree to UniCourts General Disclaimer, Terms of Service, The suit names as defendants Shady Lakes LLC, KMLM Investors LCC and Harmony Communities, Inc. Shady Lakes LLC and KMLM Investors LCC bought the Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park in Fresno in April 2019, and Harmony Communities, Inc., operates and manages the mobile home park, according to the lawsuit. Cancellation and Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, and All Rights Reserved. Those notices, the company said, include statutorily required language, but they are not eviction notices. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. If you do not agree with these terms, then do not use our website and/or services. The management company has failed to maintain roads and street lights at the property, according to the lawsuit. $(document).keydown(function(e){ They didn't even spend 2 seconds trying to keep us as customers. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, MHVillage Inc. is the nation's premier online marketplace for buying and selling manufactured homes with more than 25 million unique visitors annually. Company representatives denied the claims in both cases. Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, BBB Business Scam Alert: Out-of-Town homeowners con contractors with fake checks, Need to file a complaint? Other, BLOG: Years first job killer will hit motorists in the wallet, Californias first Job Killer of the year, as determined by, BLOG: Three business themes for 2023 and beyond, As we move deeper into 2023, the business community is. RELATED: Trails End takeover: City of Fresno now controls conditions at mobile home park. Action Type: Complaint Unlimited Civil (over $25,000); Judge: Ross, Roger. 2011 - CRLA Web design: LaserCom Design, San Francisco Photos by David Bacon & CRLA archives, ABOUT USMission & VisionBoard of DirectorsVictories Jobs & IntershipsVideosContact Us 2017 - CRLAWeb design: LaserCom Design, San FranciscoPhotos by David Bacon & CRLA archives, SUPPORT USDonateEventsCy Pres AwardProBono AssistanceFoundation & GrantsVolunteer, RESOURCESCOVID-19En EspaolCRLA NewsPress ReleasesPublicationsMedia, Visit CRLA.org for all our latest news & information, Visite CRLA.org para conocer nuestras ltimas noticias e informacin. Additionally, Harmony Communities allegedly didnt maintain the common areas at the mobile home park in good condition. Our privacy policy is straight-forward: This website does not collect any personal information about you or any user. Epstein said the ordinance does cover the neighborhood and the proposed increase in rents violates the provisions of that ordinance., Epstein cited previous litigation involving the property and the city. The just-purchased . DocketNotice of Case Assignment and Scheduling Information. The company continues to buy affordable housing communities in low-income areas in cities such as Gilroy. Over the past two years, the . I was in the process of purchasing a new build home from Harmony Homes. West. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketHearing regarding: Jury Trial Assignment (est 7-10 days), set for 07/25/2022 at 1:30 PM before Hon. Hearing regarding: Case Management Conference , set for 05/04/2021 at 8:30 AM before Hon. } Transmission and receipt of the information in this site is not intended to solicit or create, and does not create, any attorney-client relationship between CRLA, Inc. and any person or entity. The Chico State graduate is passionate about being outdoors, cooking, creative writing and community-focused journalism and resilience. The owner of Shady Lakes LLC is Bruce Davies, the same owner of Harmony Communities. And a notice given to a resident at Shady Lakes in January shows that rent will rise to $628 starting this April, a 72 percent increase over the past few years. 6653 Embarcadero Drive, Ste C Stockton, CA 95219. CRLA, Inc. only has offices in the state of California and only provides legal services for claims that arose in California. RELATED: Family of man killed in Trail's End Mobile Home Park fire files wrongful death lawsuit. "They are well regarded by the State Housing and Community Development Department," said Adams. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. We are currently in the process of buying a house from them in Bella Park. The park has been operating at a loss for several years and has been fighting to keep this park open so no resident will have to move, the letter stated. The reality is the land is worth much more than operating an RV Park for affordable housing. At the time the lawsuit was filed, shortly after Harmony Communities had purchased the property, rent had increased 32%. Yet this group of four supervisors choked and did not have the political will when they had the tool and the chance to require housing the average North County resident could afford, Arsivaud said. Sports/Entertainment The new rules dont take this into consideration, one resident noted, adding They are also on a fixed Social Security income. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Almost four years after suing a Stockton-based investment company, residents of a Fresno County mobile home park have experienced a near-100% increase in rent. If you do not agree with these terms, then do not use our website and/or services. DocketMinutes finalized for Case Management Conference held on 05/04/2021 08:30 AM . Merrifield has been an expert witness in several cases where property owners requested increases for properties in cities that have mobile home rent control ordinances. Ultimately what happens is residents are responsible for upholding their own rights and seeking judicial adjudication of their rights, which is very difficult because mobile home residents are some of the most vulnerable populations, and do not have access to the legal system, normally, she said. In late 2020, Harmony Communities made water and trash utilities payments separate. Why is this public record being published online? It is our goal to keep future rent increases in line with inflation. Police said its unclear why he on tracks, Great Wolf Lodge backs out of agreement to build waterpark near Fresno. Robert T. Waters in Department 11B. I went back to Anita and she only wanted to argue that I was at fault and she did nothing wrong. SKIP THE POP-UPS Corporate Headquarters: 838 West Hastings Street, Suite 300 | Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6 | 604-669-2663 But it only took four years under ownership of Shady Lakes LLC and managed by Harmony Communities both of which are owned by the same person to undergo the triple-digit increase in rent. Kerrie Merrifield, a forensic certified public accountant and owner of Axiom Forensics in Los Angeles, said its hard to imagine even a 32% increase in rent the original increase after the acquisition. 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. }); But a court-appointed receiver says selling to Harmony Communities is the best route to bring the community up to safety standards, as the company plans to invest $300,000 into improvements. 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. Its discrimination against us, the 38-year-old father said in Spanish. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Request for Dismissal filed by Braxton, Donna. 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. please create a FREE account OR login here. Its about whether or not theyre going to be there for one more month, said Mariah Thompson, lead attorney for the community association Grupo Comunitario de San Miguel Cuevas and staff attorney with California Rural Legal Assistance. Heres what they said, Plea in $9M Ponzi scheme to turn California cow manure into green energy after feds call BS, Fresno County sheriffs captain investigated for sexual comments to students about porn, boobs. A meeting was held in May 2022 by the CPUC to hear the matter. Well guide you through the process. Some family members have gone out to work in the fields to make up for added costs. UniCourt uses cookies to improve your online experience, for more information please see our Privacy Policy. DocketHearing Result: Vacated Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketCase status updated to Disposed. "I thought it was a mobile home park.". "So many people are using their exteriors as almost a junk yard and that is a fire danger," he said. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Payment received by Donna Braxton in the amount of $435.00. 2021-05-10, Santa Clara County Superior Courts | Personal Injury | Judge: Ross, Roger. El Grupo Comunitario has stood up for the rights and dignity of the families in Shady Lakes and has refused to let a corporate out-of-town landlord bully them and force them out of their homes., Full complaint filed with Superior Court of California available at: https://tinyurl.com/shadylakes. The only good thing is they are willing to give us our money back to leave the contract. Rancho Santa Fe resident Laurel Lemarie, a member of the San Dieguito Planning Group that recommended denial of both projects, presented a petition of 923 signatures opposed to the county allowing a high density of homes where rural or semi-rural zoning now exists. With the batching, the board approved three GPA projects on July 25 for a total of 3,937 new housing units in the county. Insurance In total the supervisors are expected to hear seven GPAs by the end of this year, including Newland Sierra, a 2,135-unit development in Twin Oaks Valley north of Escondido and possibly the 1,746-unit Lilac Hills Ranch project in Valley Center. Repairs and maintenance are usually baked into budgets. And in a Fresno County case last year, residents at the Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park filed a lawsuit alleging the company unfairly hiked rents and harassed tenants. (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. The City of San Rafael has not allowed the park to raise rents fast enough to keep up with inflation which is at an all-time high.. Park of San Rafael are pushing back against a slate of rent hikes by the management. Este sitio slo contiene contenido archivado. DocketPayment received by Donna Braxton in the amount of $435.00. She recently received the 2018 Journalistic Integrity award from the CACJ. In late January, residents received another notice increasing their rent again, bring it up to $595, Thompson said. She said its difficult to enforce mobile home park rights because oversight falls to local cities and counties that often dont have the resources to enforce them. 2019-12-19, Santa Clara County Superior Courts | Contract | A witness saw him on the sidewalk earlier in the night. The affiliates of Harmony Communities paid $9 million for the property, county documents show. They will do everything they need to do in order to pay the rent, Thompson said. Since most residents own their own homes, costs are largely fixed for property owners, Merrifield said. addresses all significant issues raised by the complainant, includes appropriate evidence and documents supporting the business' position, and. Education And the best part of all, documents in their CrowdSourced Library are FREE! Ultimately, it will be up to a judge whether the sale to Harmony Communities is approved. We would happily engage with a non profit who was able to perform and transact at a similar price point.. The two General Plan amendment projects approved by the board of supervisors last month represent a total of 779 new housing units in Harmony Grove and Eden Valley, south of Escondido. 2019-12-17. Turnover is very low because moving is so expensive. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. A complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that the increases were not in line with actual costs. Download Notice of Reassignment of Judicial Officer (RW) $("#paoc-modal-1").bind("contextmenu",function(e) { Davies received a five-year prison sentence in the marijuana case, which received national attention. Their lives are theyre constantly in crisis. Construction My TERRIBLE agent, Ana Anita M********** told me to not worry about it. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Rancho Santa Fe Review. Finally, one place to get all the court documents we need. Judge: Ross, Roger. Action Type: Civil Case Cover Sheet; Judge: Ross, Roger. The management company also instituted 29 rules, which were described in the lawsuit as burdensome, unreasonable, oppressive, and unnecessary.. @ 2023 Harmony Communities. My parents, who have lived at the park for many years, are elderly farmworkers[they] leave their shoes and clothing outside in order to avoid pesticide exposure inside of our home. Trucking DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet filed by Braxton, Donna. Thompson said the rental increases that took place at Shady Lakes would not have happened if they were within city limits because of the City of Fresnos rent control ordinances for mobile home parks. 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). Use the search options below or click a state in the map below to view communities. The city applied to put the property into a receivership, meaning a third party took control from the current owners. 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. Company officials said they have spent more than $250,000 over the past nine months, making improvements, including upgrading the sewer treatment plant, roofs, lighting in common areas and renovations to the laundry room. Epsteins letter reminded the landlord the park is bound by that judgment. Thompson was told via email that because of the lawsuit, they wouldnt send notices in Spanish. $100.00. Alberta Mustang Acres, Red Deer, Alberta Westwood Court, Innisfail, Alberta Arizona Phoenix North, Phoenix, Arizona Many of them also received a seven-day notice to comply with several rules, including permanently removing Christmas lights hanging in front of the house and carport or face eviction, according to a copy of one of the notices. The builder, Harmony Homes, refused to return the $5000.00 ******* money. Case Management Statement filed by Davies, Matthew; Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation. She said it is common for those ordinances to be challenged. As of late January, developers filed 26 applications to build 8,642 new homes under California's three-decade-old builder's remedy provision, setting aside 1,795 of those as low-income units. The residents attorney reported the sewage odor to the Central Valley Regional Water Board in June and July 2019. "I don't think we moved into a gated community where they can tell you exactly how you can have your yard," said resident Patricia Shawn. Do your own research and see all the red flags yourself. Some residents believe the rental increases that occurred shortly after the complaint was filed were retaliatory. In fact, we believe most all of the allegations are not only disingenuous but are outright falsehoods. Harmony says they are recreational vehicles and thus exempt from a city rent control ordinance covering mobile or manufactured homes. explains why any relief sought by the complainant cannot or should not be granted. Hospitality The impending closure, the. Notice of Case Assignment / Scheduling Information, Notice of Reassignment of Judicial Officer (RW), Cases involving other labor matters not classified elsewhere, 790, 1750, 1790, 2750, 2790, 3750, 3790, 4790. Action Type: Request for Dismissal; Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Request for Dismissal - Entire Action as to Donna Braxton, Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation, Matthew Davies Entered. Your questions and concerns are important to us. Government It is not a recreational vehicle park, subject to a different statutory scheme, he wrote. The Sierra Clubs writ questions whether the county has fully complied with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions generated by the approved projects, and additionally questions the improper use of batching projects in an attempt to avoid the limitation on the number of General Plan amendments that the county can adopt in a year. In a Fresno County case two years ago, residents at the Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park filed a lawsuit alleging the company unfairly hiked rents and harassed tenants. Judge: Ross, Roger. Professional Services For example, we have no way of knowing which residents are involvedtheir attorney has not divulged this informationso any claims of retaliation are simply not true.. 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. Mobile home parks will have different contracts as to how electricity and water costs are divided between homeowner and property owner. 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. She belittled my fiance and I because we look young and said how their error was a small problem in the world and that its not a big issue. 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. This site only contains archived content. Some are buying less food, not using electricity, cutting services, shopping for clothes less often. As the roofing started going up I knew 100% they were building the wrong home. Rent increases are done on an annual basis and are generally in line with inflation the red yourself... State housing and Community Development Department, '' said Adams terms, then do agree... Reality is the land is worth much more than operating an RV park for affordable housing Communities low-income. Writing and community-focused journalism and resilience and street lights at the property into receivership! Management Statement filed by Braxton, Donna witness saw him on the earlier... Low-Income areas in cities such as Gilroy Sheet ; Judge: Ross, Roger Family man! May occasionally receive promotional content from the current owners because of the allegations are not only disingenuous but are falsehoods. 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