Getting Older Has Its Advantages, wrote Loretta D. Spano, president of the Town Park/University City Village Tenants Association Inc., quoting senior Jeff Keller in her newsletter. “You don’t care what other people think “¦ you no longer seek perfection “¦ you are a lot wiser “” hopefully!”
And seniors may have too much time on their hands, too, according to John Smaha, attorney for UC Village owner Mark Schmidt. Smaha said UC Village tenants don’t have rights but created their own tenants association anyway.
“That tenants association has already sued my clients once for ADA violations,” Smaha said.
Although Spano’s chief complaint is that Schmidt won’t let tenants play bingo together, she alleges other acts of treachery.
“They put everybody out on the street and took away all of our spaces,” Spano said. “We had city code put back some parking spots and label them handicapped spots. They took down our carports and that was where we house our laundry.”
Rent began increasing as well, she said. Schmidt, a developer, began to renovate, which includes razing homes. Schmidt moved residents to nicer units but raised their monthly rent as much as $200 unless they had a contract, Spano said.
“All these buildings will be demolished and new, beautiful facilities built,” Smaha said.
Regarding the tenants’ bingo game, Smaha said the tenants already sued Schmidt once, and he knows the clubhouse isn’t up to ADA standards. First, the developer shut down their bingo game saying it was illegal, but San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre suggested that the tenants association play for free. Then, Spano said their game was raided, even though they weren’t playing for money.
“We don’t want things open to the public because then you open yourself up to too much,” Spano said.
Spano continually attended University Community Planning Group meetings, updating residents on what she described as “oppression bordering on senior abuse” by developer Schmidt.
“I think we are caught in a feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys,” Spano said. “We just want to be left alone. We’re not competing with Viejas. If it’s liability, then why won’t [they] allow bingo? It was shut down twice and there was no money on the table.”
Willmark Communities bought 370 units and a golf course, called University City Village Apartments, in 1998, according to planning documents. Spano lives inside UC Village “” tenants call these dwellings the “inner ring.” Town Park Villas consists of additional units grouped around UC Village, which tenants call “the outer ring.” Although each community is separate, Spano said the proximity of tenants created a close bond between the seniors, who share in many activities, including the bingo game.
Spano said Smaha refused to allow “public” games, meaning residents of the outer and inner circle cannot play together.
“People already sued these owners for ADA violations,” Smaha said. “It’s pretty much an open-and-shut deal.”
University Community Planning Group meets the second Tuesday of every month except August, when it is dark.
For more information, go to www.uc-planning-group.com.