Residents of Plaza East are bracing for a significant change as the John Stewart Company, the property manager of the complex, will be vacating its role at the end of the month.
This shift comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by 28 tenants, alleging harassment, negligence, and charges for uninhabitable living conditions.
The tenants are currently involved in ongoing legal proceedings seeking unlimited damages against the management company.
Many residents, however, are skeptical about what this change will mean for their day-to-day lives.
Dennis Williams, a long-time resident, expressed his doubts about the future, stating, “More of the same,” when asked about his expectations for a new property manager.
Earlier this year, tenants received a letter from the San Francisco Housing Authority indicating that discussions were underway for a new management company to take over the property.
The John Stewart Company has managed Plaza East since 2021, following another lawsuit against the previous property manager, McCormack Baron Salazar, which also ended in tenant complaints.
The ongoing cycle of tenant lawsuits and changes in management raises questions about the living conditions in Plaza East, where residents have reported severe issues such as mold infestations and sewage problems.
Silvio Ocampo, who has developed health issues including a rash and breathing difficulties, has been vocal about the mold that he claims is persistent under his carpet and the sewage seeping through his floorboards.
He describes the maintenance practices as inadequate, stating that instead of properly addressing mold issues, workers often simply paint over the affected areas, allowing the problem to return.
Plaza East was initially redeveloped in the early 2000s to provide affordable housing options for low-income families.
However, residents claim that the situation has regressed, with violence and crime still prevalent in the area.
Ocampo pointed out that gun violence is a frequent occurrence near the parking lot, which has seen increased foot traffic from people who do not live in the complex.
He cooperated with others in the community to express concerns regarding safety and security as he has repeatedly called security services, only to find a lack of response after hours.
The complex, previously notorious for its troubled past, still bears the scars of neglect in its management and upkeep, with residents feeling trapped by the circumstances surrounding them.
Besides the physical environment, tenants are grappling with a culture of fear and silence when it comes to voicing their complaints, as Ocampo has experienced firsthand.
Initially moving to Plaza East in 2006, Ocampo recalls how conditions deteriorated significantly five years later.
McCormack Baron Salazar had grand plans to redevelop Plaza East once again, aiming for a mixed-income community, but these plans have faced obstacles.
Despite receiving emergency funding to address some of the pressing issues, dissatisfaction remains high among the residents.
The San Francisco Housing Authority has promised capital improvements totaling $10 million aimed primarily at exterior painting, highlighting the limited scope of these efforts compared to the residents’ urgent needs.
Other housing complexes in San Francisco are facing similar challenges, as documented by Mission Local, which reported poor living conditions linked to management failures in various properties.
Recently, tenants across multiple subsidized housing programs have banded together to formally express their grievances to Mayor Daniel Lurie, calling attention to serious maintenance issues like asbestos and broken elevators among other hazards.
In response to residents’ demands, the mayor’s office has initiated multiple site tours over the coming weeks to inspect the reported problems.
As Ocampo gears up to testify in the ongoing lawsuit, many in Plaza East are left hoping for a genuine change in management, though skepticism lingers.
Williams encapsulated the struggle succinctly, stating that many tenants feel they have no options available.
Repeated experiences of moving to other units under similar management structures have left tenants resigned to a frustrating cycle.
“You have no other recourse,” Williams concluded.
For many, the only choice remains to move out of the area entirely, compounding the ongoing challenges faced in the search for safe and livable housing.
image source from：missionlocal
