by Tina Cole-Mullins
In follow up to SCN’s article on Lakewood Apartments Residents Say, “Enough is Enough!” residents of Clinton West apartments contacted this reporter to weigh in on the subject of management.
Clinton West apartments are located on S. Clinton St. alongside Lakewood A & B complex, are managed by PK Housing and Management of Okemos. Clinton West apartments host the office of the onsite management and maintenance, which is open during normal business hours.
Residents of Clinton West set up an open meeting in the community room of their complex to voice concerns and support of maintenance man, John Thomas. Thomas has worked the past three years at both Lakewood and Clinton West. Andrea Bates, office manager, has been employed a couple months.
“There are problems for sure, but I think Lakewood residents gave John a bad rap.
When there were heat and water issues, he did respond as much as he could. He was here evenings and weekends, even canceling a family outing. He lives in Haslett, but came in from there. Perhaps an emergency person should be available,” resident Ruth (Camp) Wellman made clear.
See Residents on page 4.
“A lot of these problems were around before John and Andrea started working here, and it’s unfair to blame them. John has been working on getting them under control along with keeping up with his regular work,” shared Mary Morris another Clinton West resident also present at the meeting.
Others were present at the meeting but preferred to remain off-record. Residents briefly discussed each complaint listed in the Lakewood article and procedures to address them, such as providing written complaints and documentation for problems, some of which are out of onsite management and maintenance control.
Morris also agreed with information referenced in the previous article but added, “All said is true, but I think the present management is now on the right track. John and Andrea really seem to care.”
Onsite management was not allowed to comment on the matter and, upon contacting Bob Sands of PK Housing and Management of Okemos to schedule a follow-up interview, Sands declined further comment on the matter also.
When speaking with Sands in December, he stated the water issue was the Village’s issue and that they were working with the village on the matter. Sands also made reference to PK Housing having gone to the Village in 2016, seeking aid with renovations.
According to an article in the Sun Times (February 2016) Peter Potterpin, President of P.K. Housing, requested assistance from the village on February 1 for a PILOT. The PILOT would allow a tax abatement toward a $1,000,000 rehabilitation project on Lakewood and Clinton West apartments.
Potterpin hopes to fund the bulk of the project by acquiring, and then selling to an investor, low income housing tax credits awarded through a federal tax program and administered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
Potterpin told the village “If we don’t get the PILOT, I don’t think we can make the numbers work,” the article stated.
When asked about the decision on the PILOT request in 2016, Greg Uihlein, Village Council president at the time in question, answered why the council voted against the PILOT abatement:
Had we entered that agreement, the village would have been on the hook for any defaults by the corporation that was looking for help,” he said.
Since SCN published information regarding issues at Lakewood apartments, the water the water issue has been addressed with the replacement of temporary shut-off valves on the Village’s side, which will be replaced in the spring when further repairs are completed.
Tenants with issues or complaints should follow the steps below:
• Send a written repair request to management or landlord
• Follow-up on the repair request to management or landlord
• Send the repair request by certified mail to management or landlord (keep receipt)
• Contact Ingham County Housing Commission (517) 349-1643
• Contact Legal Aid on Michigan Tenant law. Legal Services of South Central Michigan (517) 787-6111 can advise you on rent withholding, if it is warranted, and proper procedures
• Request mediation
• Keep documents and document all issues.
Sources:

Lakewood apartment residents say, “Enough is enough!”

thesuntimesnews.com/renovations-sought-for-stockbridge-low-income-apartment-complex-tenants-say-theyre-the-forgotten-ones/