Santa Ana : Tenants Reject $2,000 Offer to Move at Once
A group of predominantly low-income residents has rejected an Irvine development firm’s offer to pay $2,000 per household if the tenants move out immediately.
Classic Development Corp. made the offer to about 150 tenants still living in 50 homes in west Santa Ana that are scheduled to be razed, said Patricia Whitaker, city housing manager. Classic wants to use the site to build an $8.4-million project that will include 172 new apartments. The project has been approved by the city, said Patricia Whitaker, Santa Ana housing manager.
“This was approved a long time ago. Classic is under no legal requirement to provide relocation money,” Whitaker said.
Last July, renters, represented by an attorney from Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, an immigrant rights’ organization, fought evictions in court but lost. The ruling has been appealed.
They argued that the city failed to notify them of public hearings for Classic’s request for a zone change that was approved by the Planning Commission. The city’s policy is to notify only property owners.
Tenant leaders rejected Classic’s offer this week after the City Council on Monday voted to amend its notification policy to include renters.
Officials from Hermandad Mexicana Nacional could not be reached for comment.
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