Centlivre problems were there before the immigrants came and before Rick Stevenson took office.
Centlivre Apartments were built in 1963.
Jenni Glenn wrote in August 21 2005,
Centlivre LLC, the corporate name of Centlivre Village Apartments on Westbrook Drive, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March. The company listed $4.7 million in debts and $5 million in assets in a June court document. Centlivre LLC president Abe Vaknin did not return calls seeking comment. The company's attorney, Jeremy Senk, declined to comment.Centlivre Village Apartments accommodates many immigrants and refugees in its 455 units. The diverse population created a magnet for outreach programs of various social agencies and community organizations."" according to news reports.
If we remember the 1960's, there was a great out migration of population from the area. Those in the apartment business had to figure out ways to save their business. Little money goes into renovating the apartment for the tenants but to sell to another businessperson. Don't know if this happened for Centlivre, but,
Cindy Larson writes on May 12 2004,
thumbs up by City Council for the issuance and sale of $14 million in economic development revenue bonds should benefit the local Burmese community.
Council's backing of the financing allows a company to acquire and rehabilitate Centlivre Apartments. The complex is home to the largest group of Burmese refugees in the United States, said David Hart, of Centlivre Apartments LLC. The group plans to buy and make extensive improvements to the 455-unit complex, built in 1963.
``Our business is to come in and rehabilitate older properties,'' Hart said Tuesday.
The improvements won't result in higher rent, however. The apartments will remain low-income. ``The last thing you want to do is displace tenants,'' Hart said.
The financing arrangement won't cost the city anything or put it at risk, said attorney Dick Fox of Barrett & McNagny. Essentially, the city lends government status to the bonds so Centlivre Apartments LLC can seek a lower interest rate, said Elissa McGauley, city economic development specialist.
Improvements include new doors, windows and landscaping, as well as remodeled kitchens, Hart said. It ``really creates a new atmosphere for the low-income housing tenant.''
Tom Smith, R-1st District, asked why council was asked to OK millions in economic development revenue bonds all in one night. ``What's driving this?''
McGauley said part of the impetus was looming Indiana Housing Finance Authority deadlines, and part of it was just that several groups were interested in rehabilitating existing facilities in Fort Wayne at the same time.
Generally, when housing is on decline, low-income are allowed to live in the area. And the fact that most immigrants do not know about housing in the city, steering becomes a huge issue. But folks will tell you that refugees arrived in this big city and was able to find each other.
Don Stockman of the Journal-Gazette wrote,
Centlivre Apartments LLC wants to borrow $14 million for its renovation of the eight-building, 455-unit complex on Westbrook Drive.
Fort Wayne is home to the largest community of refugees from Burma, now called Myanmar, and much of that population is centered in Centlivre Apartments, officials said. They were built in 1963 and are in need of updating.
Council members unanimously approved three separate requests for economic development revenue bonds, a move that lets private developers use the city's tax-free borrowing authority to get lower interest rates.
The projects still need approval from the Indiana Housing Finance Authority. Dick Fox, attorney for one of the developers, said the city is simply a conduit for the money and is not on the hook financially in the loans.
Often, the government offered subsidies and more than likely Centlivre participated in such programs. And poverty pimps move in to take photo ops, but do not really want these individuals to live in their neighborhoods. Because their children may require them to do more for these families, rather than just painting and cleaning for the business owner.
Masaaki Harada The Journal Gazette wrote on July 13, 2005,
Centlivre Village Apartments accommodates many immigrants and refugees in its 455 units. The diverse population created a magnet for outreach programs of various social agencies and community organizations.
The problem is that these issues are hid from the public,unless the media determines what is newsworthy or truthfulness in reporting.
On September 27, 2006 Nicole Lee wrote, about the Centlivre Apartment complex,
Several changes in apartment management and lack of upkeep over the years have led to the complex’s current state, an area with several rundown buildings, dirty hallways and overgrown lawns.
During that time 100 volunteers attempted to correct a problem that was too big for even their hopes.The idea for the community cleanup came from Stephanie Struck, 25, a member of Blackhawk Ministries. She said she regularly volunteers with NeighborLink Fort Wayne and helps several Somali Bantu families at Centlivre with transportation, student tutoring and other assistance.
One day, Struck said she was talking to a fellow volunteer at the apartment complex, and said, “Wouldn’t it be great to do a once-over of this place?” She then contacted NeighborLink, which posted information on its message board about the project – formally titled a Hospitality Service Day – to solicit support. Volunteers plan to return to Centlivre later to rebuild the bus stop area in front of the apartments to provide a sturdy structure for children waiting for the school bus."
The only sturdy structure is a school bus hut is what these folks needed. Not.
On another day, Lee writes,
If things don't work out at Riverview, new homes for the programs can be found, but the question still remains - how to effectively transport Centlivre's residents there, said Joe Johns with the Reclamation Project, a group that works with the city's refugee communities.
Johns also is a member of Fellowship Missionary Church, which pays a reduced rent at Centlivre to house the Americorps children's tutorial program. Johns said that, as of now, the program will not have to relocate.
"Nobody knows exactly what (the new Centlivre management's) issues are, but what is clear is that they are changing things," he said. The Reclamation Project plans to contact other churches and the Salvation Army Center near Centlivre to help it find new locations for the programs.
The News-Sentinel also attempted to contact a representative from the Wayne Township Trustee's Office, which also operates a social-service program located at Cent-livre. Its offices were closed Friday afternoon at the time of the call.
So Wayne Township Trustee Rick Stevenson, did something that the city should have a long time ago. And guess what they are still trying to blame the people for their living conditions.
