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For a resident who was paying $395 a month for a site, they are now paying $690, not including water and trash, which at one time was included in the price to keep a home at the park. Step inside Tioga-Sequoia in Merced, Fresno County initiates legal action against two Fresno politicians. Additionally, residents said the company refuses to provide any documents in Spanish, which their attorneys says is required by law, according to the lawsuit. The county is limited to four General Plan amendments a year but a single amendment may include multiple sub-items, referred to as batching. var cbClass = custombox[0]; Work was done to correct what was a terrible odor, but Thompson said many clients complain it still stinks from time to time. 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. There are programs that help mobile home residents secure financing. Water bills range anywhere from $50 to $200, Thompson said. Action Type: First Paper Unlimited Civil (amount over $25,000); Judge: Ross, Roger. The residents attorney reported the sewage odor to the Central Valley Regional Water Board in June and July 2019. Family of man killed in Trail's End Mobile Home Park fire files wrongful death lawsuit, Trails End takeover: City of Fresno now controls conditions at mobile home park, Fresno woman involved in mobile home fire calling for change. 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. The area has experienced significant wildfire losses40 structures burned down during the Cocos Fire in 2014, burning a majority of one developments project area and reaching the border of another. 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. Judge: Ross, Roger. RELATED: Family of man killed in Trail's End Mobile Home Park fire files wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit filed last Monday alleges Harmony has allowed taxes and bills to go unpaid, has hired family and friends for unnecessary work and defied arbitration and judicial rulings that. Hearing Result: Vacated Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Case status updated to Disposed. The company was also involved in a controversial 2018 RV park rent hike in San Leandro, which does not have rent control. }); A 51-year-old resident said he fears he wont be able to afford the new price. Utility payments are one example of a variable cost for property owners. 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. Yesenia Amaro covers immigration and diverse communities for The Fresno Bee. When someone does move, it is common they will sell the unit to the property owner. Agriculture I have tried to appeal to the builder to no avail. These are very community-minded folks, Thompson said. if(e.which === 123){ e.preventDefault(); 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. | Pacific Publishing Group, Inc. 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. This case was filed in Fresno County Superior Courts, Fresno County BF Sisk Courthouse located in Fresno, California. Negative reviews EVERYWHERE. Its insanity, this notion of being able to increase the rent just obscene in my opinion, Mason said. 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. In total, five homes were destroyed and a resident died. Website: www.harmonycommunities.com Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada Size: 201 to 500 Employees Type: Company - Private Revenue: Unknown / Non-Applicable Competitors: Unknown Harmony Communities Reviews 2.6 0 % Recommend to a Friend 3.0 Current Employee "great company" Apr 4, 2022 - Administrative Assistant Pros hours no weekends Finally, one place to get all the court documents we need. The lawsuit is nothing more than an attempted shakedown in retaliation for not continuing to provide below market rents. The city applied to put the property into a receivership, meaning a third party took control from the current owners. 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. They will do everything they need to do in order to pay the rent, Thompson said. CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC. In fact, we believe most all of the allegations are not only disingenuous but are outright falsehoods. $100.00. Trucking By continuing to use this website, you agree to UniCourts General Disclaimer, Terms of Service, On 05/09/2022 this business's accreditation in the BBB was revoked by the BBB's Board of Directors due to failure by the business to adhere to the BBB requirement that Accredited Businesses meet and abide by the following standards: This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. , El Grupo Comunitario de San Miguel Cuevas (El Grupo Comunitario) is an unincorporated resident association that primarily represents low-wage farmworker families residing in Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park, a small mobile home community located approximately one mile south of Malaga in Fresno County.. We are not asking the tenants to move. Complaint Unlimited Civil (over $25,000) filed by Braxton, Donna. Corporate Headquarters: 838 West Hastings Street, Suite 300 | Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6 | 604-669-2663 The park has been operating at a significant loss which we are attempting to remedy, the company said in the statement. 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. They speak Mixteco. It is not a recreational vehicle park, subject to a different statutory scheme, he wrote. Residents say the proprietor, Harmony Communities of Stockton, is seeking steep increases at the neighborhood, which is at 742 Francisco Blvd. Company representatives denied the claims in both cases. Thompson described the $200 monthly increase as brutal.. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met. 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. Retail Non-Profit The builder, Harmony Homes, refused to return the $5000.00 ******* money. The company was also involved in a controversial 2018 RV park rent hike in San Leandro, which does not have rent control. The evacuation plan was also approved by the County Fire Authority and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. Action Type: Summons - Civil; Judge: Ross, Roger. Action Type: Request for Dismissal; Judge: Waters, Robert T.. HearingHearing 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). During the projects July 25 hearing, county staff and fire experts said that the fire protection plan developed for the projects was extensive with measures that met and exceeded San Diego County Consolidated Fire Code. What that means is that there is sort of a justice gap where other types of renters in the state are able to get these very important protections, the mobile home parks are left in a different situation, she said. She said it is common for those ordinances to be challenged. A case management conference is scheduled in court for this case on April 22, according to court records. By continuing to use this website, you agree to UniCourts General Disclaimer, Terms of Service, (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. 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. Thompson was told via email that because of the lawsuit, they wouldnt send notices in Spanish. In a recent letter to residents, the company said the increases will bring the average monthly rent to $650. The park has been an affordable option for the families and has provided them with the stability of home ownership as well as a tight-knit community. Cancellation and Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, and BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. This represents a missed opportunity to recapture for public benefit some part of the gain in land value resulting from their public action.. Many of the residents have received notices requesting their gates be left unlocked at all times, and have had personnel with the company enter their private property and take photos of everything around their house, Thompson said. The affiliates of Harmony Communities paid $9 million for the property, county documents show. We continue to operate the park in conformance with all state laws and regulations and are deemed to be in full compliance by the State of California agencies. Why is this public record being published online? California Rural Legal Assistance attorney Mariah Thompson tweeted Wednesday about Harmony Communities CEO Matt Davies' federal conviction on marijuana charges in 2013 and his assault conviction in 2019. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. 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. The owner of Shady Lakes LLC is Bruce Davies, the same owner of Harmony Communities. Its discrimination against us, the 38-year-old father said in Spanish. @ 2023 Harmony Communities. A complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that the increases were not in line with actual costs. It says the nearest comparable neighborhood, a site in eastern Larkspur, charges about $2,000 for similar accommodations.. Notice of Case Assignment and Scheduling Information. The County General Plan requires that whenever a large General Plan amendment project is proposed, an affordable housing element must be included. Harmony chooses the color residents can paint their houses, the material, color, and height of their fences, and where air conditioners can be installed. She admitted fault of the company and offered us a washer and dryer for the mistake.. a washer and dryer for compensation of a completely wrong house. The company continues to buy affordable housing communities in low-income areas in cities such as Gilroy. Many received notices saying they could be evicted from the park for reasons such as leaving things on the porch or having Christmas lights up. 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. And in a. Judge: Ross, Roger. Alberta Mustang Acres, Red Deer, Alberta Westwood Court, Innisfail, Alberta Arizona Phoenix North, Phoenix, Arizona Do your own research and see all the red flags yourself. $(document).keydown(function(e){ With the rise in the rent, there is worry that they may not be able to make rent.. custombox = document.getElementsByClassName("custombox-content"); Robert T. Waters in Department 11B. We would happily engage with a non profit who was able to perform and transact at a similar price point.. DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet filed by Braxton, Donna. Since most residents own their own homes, costs are largely fixed for property owners, Merrifield said. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. But some residents want to put a stop to it. 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. Subscribe now & save $20 OFF. The park continues to operate at a loss and requires ongoing cash infusions by the owners to keep the park open. 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. They also said the park authorities refuse to provide notices in Spanish. 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. $0.00. The lawsuit claims Harmony Communities increased rent by 32% soon after taking over the property. 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. 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. Corporate Headquarters: 838 West Hastings Street, Suite 300 | Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6 | 604-669-2663 In a statement to The Bee, company representatives denied many of the residents claims. Thank you for your interest in social justice! Epsteins letter reminded the landlord the park is bound by that judgment. Hearing regarding: Case Management Conference , set for 05/04/2021 at 8:30 AM before Hon. Harmony says they are recreational vehicles and thus exempt from a city rent control ordinance covering mobile or manufactured homes. Thompson said residents buying the park would be a win-win. "They are well regarded by the State Housing and Community Development Department," said Adams. Ms. Jaymie Buchholz, Customer Service Specialist, Ms. Jan Scarborough, Marketing Coordinator. While Harmony increased rent, they failed to fix an issue with the on-site wastewater system, forcing residents to pay higher rent while suffering with the overwhelming smell of sewage. RELATED: Trails End takeover: City of Fresno now controls conditions at mobile home park. , He added that Shady Lakes is available for purchase. With the batching, the board approved three GPA projects on July 25 for a total of 3,937 new housing units in the county. The reality is the land is worth much more than operating an RV Park for affordable housing. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketProof of Service of Summons as to Matthew Davies served on 12/02/2020 by Substituted Service. Before the most recent increase it was at 72% bump. Additionally, Harmony Communities allegedly didnt maintain the common areas at the mobile home park in good condition. 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