COLUMBUS, Ohio — Residents at the Sandridge Apartments in northeast Columbus have one month left to find a new place to live.
They are not being evicted, but in order to stay, they would have to reapply and pay nearly double for rent.
On April 1, the new owners, Easton Townhomes, notified residents that they had 60 days to vacate, but later extended that deadline to 90 days.
James Drinks has lived at the complex for 14 years, paying a monthly rent of $525, which he said has never been increased.
He said finding a new place at a similar price is nearly impossible.
“Only after we interceded and spoke to them, did they give us an extra 30 days. Wow, we were really happy about it, but is 90 days enough time to find a place to live where you have been 14, 15 some of these folks, 20 years. No it’s not, but they don't care,” Drinks said.
He is planning to move to a senior living community in Canal Winchester which is still nearly double his rent now, but he is worried for his neighbors who don’t yet have a plan.
“We have made it into a community and these people come in with no forethought, just, 'you gotta leave,'” he said.
The City of Columbus Department of Development has housing and human services advocates helping residents access resources including emergency rental assistance.
“The important thing to realize with Sandridge is these folks were not getting evicted, they were on a month-to-month lease and the landlord, in this case, determine that they wanted to charge a different price so these folks have the 30-day clock to agree to the new term or find additional housing,” said Cameron Keir, chief communications officer for the Department of Development.
Keir explained this situation shows why Columbus needs more affordable housing in the region.
“The concern is, regionally, we do not have enough housing at any price point period so when you have additional folks coming in that is gonna saturate a certain level of housing and take from others. But that is the same thing that happens any time there is a demand for a certain level of housing. That is why we need to build 200,000 units in the region in the next decade,” Keir said.
The property manager would not provide a comment to 10TV. Voicemails to the corporate office, Carlton Equities which is based out of state, were not returned.