Proof of Service of Summons as to Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation served on 11/16/2020 by Substituted Service. A case management conference is scheduled in court for this case on April 22, according to court records. Epsteins letter reminded the landlord the park is bound by that judgment. It is our goal to keep future rent increases in line with inflation. $(window).load( function() { 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. (AP) A Montana beekeeper has recovered hives that were, Starting in 1999, prices for agricultural land in the South, Visitors to the Central Valley spent more than $1.96 billion, Amazon.com today announced plans to open a fulfillment center in, Select industry CRLA, Inc. only has offices in the state of California and only provides legal services for claims that arose in California. Residents who oppose these rules have been harassed and threatened by Harmonys staff. Action Type: First Paper Unlimited Civil (amount over $25,000); Judge: Ross, Roger. 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. This story was originally published February 12, 2020, 9:47 AM. The projects faced opposition from neighboring residents due to the fire risk of adding more density in a high fire hazard severity zone as well as exceeding the number of homes allowed in the General Plan. Judge: Ross, Roger. WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin, Copyright 2023 The Business Journal. Water bills range anywhere from $50 to $200, Thompson said. Ms. Jaymie Buchholz, Customer Service Specialist, Ms. Jan Scarborough, Marketing Coordinator. 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. Real Estate What the residents want for Harmony Communities is to stop a number of unlawful business practices.. Repairs and maintenance are usually baked into budgets. The company was also involved in a controversial 2018 RV park rent hike in San Leandro, which does not have rent control. Currently the park is losing money on an ongoing basis. El Grupo Comunitario retained California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) to represent them in their legal case against Harmony Communities and filed a lawsuit against Harmony Communities in Fresno County Superior Court in December 2019. 6653 Embarcadero Drive, Ste C Stockton, CA 95219. Negative reviews EVERYWHERE. Harmony Communities spokesperson Heywood Jablom issued the following statement: Shady Lakes has completed close $1,000,000 in repairs and upgrades to the park over the last 4 years, including water and sewer systems upgrades as well as numerous road and lighting repairs. Harmony Communities, Inc., (Harmony) a Stockton-based corporation that operates more than twenty mobile home parks throughout California and Oregon, took over Shady Lakes in April 2018. Retired I feel that since I was denied by the lender, I am entitled to a full refund. 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. Judge: Ross, Roger. Action Type: Civil Case Cover Sheet; Judge: Ross, Roger. Action Type: Complaint Unlimited Civil (over $25,000); Judge: Ross, Roger. Alberta Mustang Acres, Red Deer, Alberta Westwood Court, Innisfail, Alberta Arizona Phoenix North, Phoenix, Arizona BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. The anticipated target price for the tiny homes is expected to be around $89,950. , 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.. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After two tragic fires tore through Trails End Mobile Home Park in northeast Fresno, the community could soon see new owners step in. INSANELY HORRIBLE COMPANY! Those notices, the company said, include statutorily required language, but they are not eviction notices. Some residents believe the rental increases that occurred shortly after the complaint was filed were retaliatory. Judge: Ross, Roger. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Request for Dismissal filed by Braxton, Donna. , He added that Shady Lakes is available for purchase. Share Thompson was told via email that because of the lawsuit, they wouldnt send notices in Spanish. We are not asking the tenants to move. Cancellation and Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, and Harmony chooses the color residents can paint their houses, the material, color, and height of their fences, and where air conditioners can be installed. Why is this public record being published online? 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. "There's special funding available from the federal government and other investors to lend to these communities so that residents can purchase their parks themselves," said Thompson. Harmony immediately raised space rent by $130.00a 32% increase that made rents unaffordable to families living in the park. Water bills range anywhere from $50 to $200, Thompson said. 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. Mark Adams is the court-appointed receiver at Trails End and insists that Harmony Communities was picked for a reason. For more information on CRLA, please visit: www.crla.org. Property Management The affiliates of Harmony Communities paid $9 million for the property, county documents show. The impending closure, the. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. The reality is the land is worth much more than operating an RV Park for affordable housing. There are programs that help mobile home residents secure financing. The new rules dont take this into consideration, one resident noted, adding They are also on a fixed Social Security income. But a group of residents is hoping they might be able to buy the property themselves through a cooperative. Shady Lakes said the company provides some of the most affordable housing in the area. 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. The just-purchased . A $20 service fee was added at the beginning of 2021. DocketSummons issued and filed. The Chico State graduate is passionate about being outdoors, cooking, creative writing and community-focused journalism and resilience. 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. var cbClass = custombox[0]; Judge: Ross, Roger. By continuing to use this website, you agree to UniCourts General Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Search Harmony Communities With 42 communities and over 10,000 sites across North America, we have what you're looking for! The lawsuit, filed Dec. 19 in Fresno County Superior Court, involves numerous residents at the mobile home park, only identified collectively as Grupo Comunitario De San Miguel Cuevas. San Miguel Cuevas is the town in Oaxaca where theyre originally from. Beverly Mason, a resident in the neighborhood for about 20 years, said she thinks the owners were trying to get around the ordinance and raise rents quietly. Further California law does not require the translation of documents to a language other than English.. 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. But some residents want to put a stop to it. RELATED: Fresno woman involved in mobile home fire calling for change. Food/Restaurants This site only contains archived content. 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 Rancho Santa Fe Association board last week said it would not move forward in joining a lawsuit or filing its own legal action. Media/Newspaper/TV/Radio 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. @ 2023 Harmony Communities. CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC. In late 2020, Harmony Communities made water and trash utilities payments separate. On Aug. 23, the notices of intent to sue were filed on behalf of the Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council, Endangered Habitats League and the Cleveland National Forest Foundation. The lawsuit was . The owner of Shady Lakes LLC is Bruce Davies, the same owner of Harmony Communities. 2022-09-06, Fresno County Superior Courts | Other | Robert T. Waters in Department 11B. Attorney, Sanjay Bansal, retained for Donna Braxton . I went back to Anita and she only wanted to argue that I was at fault and she did nothing wrong. 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. 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. She previously worked for the Phnom Penh Post in Cambodia and the Las Vegas Review-Journal in Nevada. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. They also said the park authorities refuse to provide notices in Spanish. For only $59 for one 1-year you will receive the Print edition along with EVERYTHING The Business Journal has to offer digitally, PLUS you will have unlimited 24- hour a day access to view articles at. e.preventDefault(); She said the sewage system was malfunctioning for at least eight months, and the park was inundated with as smell of human sewage.. Judge: Ross, Roger. Use the search options below or click a state in the map below to view communities. Roger Ross in Department 11B. Aug. 28, 2018 10 AM PT. 2021-05-10, Santa Clara County Superior Courts | Personal Injury | Last year, more than 80,000 homes were sold on MHVillage with a combined transaction value exceeding $3 billion. George Antypas, Harmony Communities' regional manager, defended the rent increase, saying in a statement that median home prices in Golden are almost $800,000, while the average manufactured . Replacing a laundry room or a lamp post may be expensive, but usually those rent increases will be temporary until the improvement has been paid off. 838 West Hastings Street, Suite 300 | Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6 | 604-669-2663. According to a release, the lawsuit is being filed to protect public safety, defend the integrity of the Countys General Plan and demand supervisors get serious about affordable housing.. "If they have really strict rules, I don't think anybody can live by them," said 32-year-resident Patsy Rajskup. Case Management Statement filed by Davies, Matthew; Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation. The Bee interviewed nine residents, all of whom said theyve been hit with significant rent increases by the new owners. Law Let us know how we can help. If you do not agree with these terms, then do not use our website and/or services. 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. Hearing regarding: Case Management Conference , set for 05/04/2021 at 8:30 AM before Hon. All Rights Reserved. West. A witness saw him on the sidewalk earlier in the night. "They are well regarded by the State Housing and Community Development Department," said Adams. Davies received a five-year prison sentence in the marijuana case, which received national attention. 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. 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. Receipt number 597503. In total, five homes were destroyed and a resident died. $100.00. The company continues to buy affordable housing communities in low-income areas in cities such as Gilroy. City officials and residents at R.V. 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. Our attorneys are reviewing the document submitted by the tenants counsel, but we believe the claims are unfounded. A group of Fresno County residents is suing the Shady Lakes Mobile Home Park, claiming property managers unfairly hiked rent prices and harassed tenants. The 53-year-old man said all residents who are part of the lawsuit work in the field seasonally. 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). Roger Ross in Department 11B. DocketNotice of Case Assignment and Scheduling Information. The community suffered two destructive fires in April and June of 2021. 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. DocketHearing 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. A couple who has four children and has lived at the mobile home park for about six years, said they have to choose between buying items their children need or having enough money to pay the rent. Yesenia Amaro covers immigration and diverse communities for The Fresno Bee. The Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council has initiated litigation against the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for its approval of the Harmony Grove Village South and Valiano housing projects. We do not want to displace a single person with this rent increase and merely desire for the owner to make a reasonable profit and be able to provide safe and affordable housing for all of you.. Complaint Unlimited Civil (over $25,000) filed by Braxton, Donna. explains why any relief sought by the complainant cannot or should not be granted. Properties owned/managed throughout California and Oregon, Approximate number of residents living in a Harmony Community, Harmony Communities - All Rights Reserved |. 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 lawsuit is nothing more than an attempted shakedown in retaliation for not continuing to provide below market rents. $0.00. }); Things are getting desperate in this remote, mountainous community in far Northern California, where cannabis is king the economy, the culture, the everything. }); Our work impacts farmworkers, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBT communities, women, children and families in rural areas. The Judge overseeing this case is Cullers, Mark. She said it feels awful seeing instability for existing affordable housing like mobile homes. Receipt number 597503. 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. One of the complaints is that notices from Harmony arent served in both Spanish and English. Harmony has issued eviction notices to residents for having Christmas lights up, having boots or doormats on the porch, having childrens toys or brooms outside, and for other normal uses of ones home. This represents a missed opportunity to recapture for public benefit some part of the gain in land value resulting from their public action.. Judge: Ross, Roger. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Download Notice of Reassignment of Judicial Officer (RW) The only good thing is they are willing to give us our money back to leave the contract. Police said its unclear why he on tracks, Great Wolf Lodge backs out of agreement to build waterpark near Fresno. 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. Disclaimer: This website is not intended to provide nor does it provide legal advice. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. I was in the process of purchasing a new build home from Harmony Homes. please create a FREE account OR login here. They speak Mixteco. The group of residents advocating for a cooperative is hoping the City of Fresno will support the idea before a judge later this month. Subscribe now & save $20 OFF. A spokesman for Harmony. The dispute hinges on what kind of homes are there. All Rights Reserved. 2019-12-17. Read More Business Details and See Alerts, International Association of Better Business Bureaus. 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. Several of the residents interviewed by The Bee said they have been threatened with eviction notices. Banking and Finance 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. DocketHearing Result: Vacated Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketCase status updated to Disposed. 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. Harmony Communities, Inc., (Harmony) a Stockton-based corporation that operates more than twenty mobile home parks throughout California and Oregon, took over Shady Lakes in April 2018. Thank you for your interest in social justice! West. Well guide you through the process. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. if(e.which === 123){ While the management has already increased rent for 2021, any further rent increases must be approved through the hearing process provided for in San Rafael Municipal Code.. The Valiano and Harmony Grove Village South projects represent the worst of all worlds: freeways to sprawl that enrich the clever ones while the public and the planet bear the cost. Step inside Tioga-Sequoia in Merced, Fresno County initiates legal action against two Fresno politicians. DocketMinutes finalized for Case Management Conference held on 05/04/2021 08:30 AM . After adding new utility fees that had been parceled out and another increase, in some cases rent had climbed over 100% since 2019. Este sitio slo contiene contenido archivado. Turnover is very low because moving is so expensive. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Rancho Santa Fe Review. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Harmony Communities, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. Judge: Waters, Robert T.. DocketRequest for Dismissal - Entire Action as to Donna Braxton, Harmony Communities, Inc., a California corporation, Matthew Davies Entered. This case was filed in Fresno County Superior Courts, Fresno County BF Sisk Courthouse located in Fresno, California. 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. These are very community-minded folks, Thompson said. We believe in charging a fair market rent as well as providing subsidies to those in need. UniCourt uses cookies to improve your online experience, for more information please see our Privacy Policy. Non-Profit 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). Judge: Waters, Robert T.. As the roofing started going up I knew 100% they were building the wrong home. A plaintiff can make any allegations they like, but that does not make them true. The builder, Harmony Homes, refused to return the $5000.00 ******* money. Hearing Result: Vacated Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Case status updated to Disposed. And in a. In San Rafael in 2022, Harmony Communities sent notices to residents that they were closing the park. 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. With the rise in the rent, there is worry that they may not be able to make rent.. 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. Harmony Communities did not respond to requests for comment. In a recent letter to residents, the company said the increases will bring the average monthly rent to $650. Outside of the financial reasons keeping them there, most of the residents come from the same area in Oaxaca a state in southern Mexico.