Gardencrest Tenants Association Campaign for a Fair Solution

In 2001, as the housing market was turning red hot, Sarah Robbins, now a WATCH board member, walked into the WATCH office to ask for help. The apartment complex where she lived, Gardencrest Apartments, had been put up for sale. The property had been home to 696 of Waltham’s working families for more than 50 years (the vast majority of tenants were elderly or low-income or both), and Sarah was concerned for herself and for her neighbors.

WATCH made a strong offer to buy the complex for $70 million, which would have preserved 60% of the units for low and moderate-income families.  Instead, in early July, 2002, it sold for $85 million to Home Properties of New York, a Rochester-based company.  Immediately after the sale was complete, Home Properties notified tenants whose leases would be up in September that their rents would increase by $80. These notices were just the first step in Home Properties’ plan to increase rents by 40 – 45% over 4 years.  

WATCH helped the tenants organize when Sarah came to WATCH with the first rumors of a sale.  By the time Home Properties had acquired the property, the tenants were ready.  Over 250 tenants participated in meetings, letter writing campaigns and petitions.

They were especially successful in using the media to tell their story. Banker and Tradesman did an effective job in portraying the economic downside to the “market forces” of the sale and its affect on real people.

The tenants’ public awareness work led Ward 6 Councillor Ken Doucette and At-Large Councillor David Marcou to create a rent subsidy program, using funds previously collected under inclusionary zoning.  Low-income tenants could receive a monthly rental subsidy 2 years.  The tenants wanted to reduce the rent increases, not to subsidize their landlord with local resources, but in the absence of an agreement with the landlord, they accepted the subsidy.

In early 2003 the Gardencrest Tenants Association’s campaign paid off.  After collecting over 120 signatures on a petition noting that tenants would withhold rent increases if Home Properties did not negotiate in good faith, Home Properties’ CEO Nelson Leenhouts finally engaged in a discussion about rent increases.  This first productive meeting was followed by negotiations via fax and phone with the Tenants association using advice from WATCH staff as well as from local attorney Gene Burkhart.  

By the time summer rolled around, the tenants and Home Properties CEO Nelson Leenhouts had a signed agreement that capped the rents of all low-income tenants to no more than 5% for 4 (years. This agreement affected more tenants than any other private agreement to date in Massachusetts regarding rent levels.  The final paperwork was signed at an outdoor party on the Gardencrest property in July 2003. When it was all said and done, the Gardencrest Tenants Association sent WATCH this note,

To all the folks at WATCH,

The Gardencrest Tenants Association wants to extend our sincerest thanks for all you have done for us in the last 2 years.  We could not have persevered without your guidance, support and hard work.  You were there when we reached out for help.  You gave us inspiration and hope when we couldn’t believe what was happening to our lives let alone dream of what could be done.  You educated us when we needed it as well as provided the staff time and budget to make things happen.  When we pushed you away, you backed off but didn’t disappear. When we wanted your help again, you were right there for us, no complaints for the rough treatment you received. When our leaders needed a break, you held the reins long enough so that they could come back and continue the fight.  You held our hand and gave us the courage to make the world a better place.