Independence Towers Tenants Union wants to speak to prospective new owner ahead of hearing
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - On Friday, the tenants’ union at Independence Tower held a rally, inviting the complex’s potential new owner to speak with them ahead of a hearing set for later this month.
The Independence Towers Tenant Union is entering its 7th month of its rent strike, the longest in the region. At the rally, tenants again voiced issues they say they’ve had to deal with in the building since they moved in.
“Independence Towers has been my home for 6 years,” said Anna Heetmann. “It’s felt more like a nightmare sometimes. Like when I opened the door to see chunks of the ceiling in my cat’s bed underneath a massive hole that would stay open for 4 more years. Or the first time I swallowed a roach in my drink. Or sleeping through a massive fire on the 2nd floor because the building’s fire alarms didn’t go off.”
Last month, permission to sell the building. A hearing has now been scheduled for Friday, April 18 to potentially appoint a new owner for the complex: Dynasty Properties LLC.
Tenants want to speak with those at Dynasty Properties LLC before then.
“We just want a fair lease agreement that will allow us to continue to organize and ensure that what repairs that were started by Trigild and the receiver continue on, so this place gets to be a place that we actually want to live in,” said Chris Carlton.
“Please come to the table,” said Steve West. “Talk to us. We just want proper repairs made to the building and to be treated like people. That’s really it.”
Tenants say they are aware of the possibility of being evicted when a new owner takes over.
“We are preparing for when the building is sold, it’s going to be a new situation,” said Heetmann. “Anything is possible. There is no right to withhold your rent in Missouri, so it’s a risk we’ve been taking this whole time and we’re all clear on that. We think our best shot is to get Vijai Ponnezhan (owner of Dynasty Properties LLC) to negotiate with us before the sale hearing so that we’re going into this next stage every all of us knowing what’s coming and are on the same page.”
KCTV5 reached out to both Trigild and Dynasty Properties LLC Friday afternoon for comment, but have not heard back at this time.
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