It appears Corporate
had advanced information about a Starbucks being built just steps from the
property because, when I returned to the complex from yesterday’s workout, a notice
had been posted to doors indicating an increase in rent.
Our rents haven’t
increased in three years, so it’s a safe bet this increase is the result of The
Starbucks Effect (Starbucks moves in, property values go up, building owners charge more).
It’s only an
additional $49 per month which, after not having an increase in such a long
time, is not going to kill anyone but, I’ll bet dollars to donuts this
Starbucks Effect is going to cause increases to now be an annual thing.
With 178 apartment
homes on the property, Corporate is going to gain big time without actually
having to do any work or improvements on the property to justify the increase.
Looking at the paragraph that says “We hope you will
continue to see the value of your apartment home and we look forward to your
continued residency”, Corporate must be expecting some residents will not be happy with the increase and end up moving, because the increase is based solely
on The Starbucks Effect, while management is failing to make improvements some have requested, i.e., new paint job, new carpet.
Corporate must also
be thinking some residents will cause trouble by taking the issue to housing authorities, because
of the wording in the paragraph which goes ... “Should you wish to discuss the rent increase or
let us know of any concerns you may have, we urge you to reach out to us rather
than the local City/County/State government agencies as they are not
responsible for the rent increase”.
Interesting wording,
is it not.
I’ve never in my life
seen such words accompanying a rate increase.
At any rate, I’m good
with the changes coming as a result of The Starbucks Effect, even if it means
the owner of the property, where the Pain Cave is located, increases Trainer’s
rent, which causes Trainer to eventually increase his rates. However, I will
have an issue if the increases, here on the complex, come more frequently than
annually ─ i.e., every six months as
some properties have taken to doing.
On another note,
there is an old guy living in that heretofore vacant lot.
He doesn’t have a
tent, just lies in the field, on padding, with his belongings around him.
When I saw the area had
been fenced in the other day, I thought old guy might be gone already. But, coming
back from yesterday’s workout, I spotted him on the corner and realized the
area where he lives is just outside the fenced in area.
He’s good for now,
but eventually that area will also be taken up ─ maybe for parking.
Even after a three year wait, I think that 45 dollar rate increase is a little high.
ReplyDeleteNot all our residents are receiving retirement pensions, some are disability. For them an additional $49 might be an issue.
DeleteYou're right. $49 is not a lot but it's enough to talk about. Especially about what might happen next year. Are they going to start pushing rents up to push people out? Might be a good time to start looking around for a new place. Right after you talk to the government.
ReplyDeleteWith a Trainer on one corner, Starbucks on the other corner, loving my unit, it's going to take a lot to get me to move. I do have my limits, just not sure what that limit is until it happens. But I'm sure someone here is angry enough to take it to the government, Lol.
DeleteI have a Love/Hate relationship with gentrification. On the one hand it improves neighborhoods so that people want to really live there, but on the other hand it often prices regular people and especially those on a fixed income out of the neighborhoods they've always lived.
ReplyDeleteI like that word "gentrification". It perfectly describes what's about to occur. However, I don't think anyone is deliberately trying to push people out, it's just that self-interest prevails. They see an opportunity to make even more money and don't care if others get hurt in the process.
DeleteThe management came and replaced the blinds in my bedroom which look out onto the inner court. They replaced the practically new looking mini blinds with some very nice 2" wooden blinds, but why? It makes me nervous when they start repairing things that aren't broken .... like is the rent going up? We'll see,
ReplyDeleteLOL. That fixing things that aren't broken is usually the sign of a rent increase. Reminds me of when a manager came in and painted my apartment with me saying stop, don't paint, and he did it anyway. THEN he turned around, raised the rent saying it was justified because of what "I just did for you".
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