By: Las Vegas Now Staff
A few years ago, sky-high real estate prices caused a crisis in affordable housing. To help, a new low income family complex was inaugurated with great fanfare. Now some residents say the complex has gone way off track.
But management is fighting back, saying it is just a few disgruntled residents who are creating controversy where none exists.
It started as a low income housing complex intended only for grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. Three years later that mission is a thing of the past and some current residents say the quality of life is deteriorating.
In 2005, balloons were flying high over the David J. Hoggard Family Community. Named for a former head of the local NAACP chapter, dignitaries were on hand for the grand opening celebration.
At 63, Charlie Robinson is one of a handful of seniors still left raising grandchildren here. She's still fond of the early days, “Halloween, Thanksgiving — everything was decorated.”
But times have changed. The 100-unit complex now accepts anybody who meets low income guidelines.
“There's nobody to help the seniors. Like I said, there's nothing for the kids,” she said.
In March, resident Cindy Hammonds submitted a petition with more than 30 signatures which purported to lay out a whole range of additional problems. Among the complaints: a rent increase, coercion and harassment by management, even bugs.
“You know it's a nightmare. For me it's been a nightmare,” she said.
Property Director Dora Lagrande strongly refutes every single complaint listed in the petition.
“In terms of the raise in rent, we cannot raise the rent unless the state HUD gives us a rent increase,” she said.
Lagrande also contends the residents who signed this petition were never shown the specific list complaints.
Resident Jennifer Waterhouse signed the petition, but she's backing management's side of the story.
“You know, I can't even remember what it was about. It wasn't a big deal, so that's why I signed it. I have no problems here at all,” she said.
As for the original mission of seniors raising grandkids, Lagrande says there just were not enough qualifying seniors to ultimately fill this complex. Rather than leave units vacant, Lagrande says the State Housing Division ordered the complex opened to all qualifying low-income families.
“I don't think we view it as a failure. I mean, we made an attempt and they could not afford the three bedrooms. They can still apply here. There's nothing precluding them from applying,” she said.
Dora says management remains proud of it's record here and wants their residents to call it home, even if some residents don't see it that way.
“Slumlords. That's the perfect word,” said Hammonds.
The property manager say Hammonds, the woman who started the petition drive, has now been evicted by court order for failing to pay her rent on time.
The Hoggard complex gets federal tax credits and sits on land leased by the Las Vegas Housing Authority. Hoggard, and several other similar facilities, are run by a non-profit group headed by former Las Vegas City Councilman Frank Hawkins.
Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Mark Sayre
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