Golfview residents form association, demand meeting with property owners over rent increase
Lang
4/7/19
Over one-hundred residents of the Golfview manufactured housing community have come together to form the Golfview Residents Association in their fight against a proposed rent increase.
The group met at the North Liberty Public Library Friday night, agreeing to form the Association by unanimous voice vote. The first order of business for the newly-formed association is to demand a meeting with new Golfview owners Havenpark, who announced last week a rent increase of approximately 60% starting on June 1st.
Among the speakers at Friday night’s meeting were Center for Worker Justice representative and Iowa City city councilor Mazahir Salih as well as Jesse Case, chief officer of Teamsters Local 238. Case is also the president of TeamCAN, a non-profit social justice arm of the local Teamsters organization.
Attendees at Friday night’s meeting argued that the rent increase would force many of them out of their homes. Many of the low-income residents affected are elderly or disabled.
Golfview residents were notified of the sale in a letter, in which Utah-based Havenpark explained the rent increase as a way to “protect the community.” The company also plans around $2 million in improvements, including a play area, new homes and paved roads.
Havenpark on Friday was scheduled to close purchase deals on the Sunrise Mobile Home Village on Scott Boulevard and the West Branch Mobile Home Village. The two parks hold a total of over 300 lots.
