Sawant’s latest battle targets landlord and property managers over conditions at Rainier Valley affordable senior housing complexes – CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News
District 3 representative Kshama Sawant is standing up for seniors living in two Rainier Valley apartment communities who say their buildings are unsafe and poorly maintained.
Sawant’s office says the city council member was planning a Wednesday morning appearance at the 34th Ave S offices of COAST Property Management calling for the company that manages the complexes and property owner SouthEast Effective Development to respond to the complaints.
The Tenants Union and Sawant have supported residents who say they are living in “unsafe and deplorable living conditions at units of a subsidized housing complex in Rainier Valley that includes water leaks, no heat and broken appliances,” KOMO reported.
The battles targeting individual developers and real estate companies have been a regular Sawant strategy and an element of her time in office mostly much different from other colleagues on the council over the years.
In spring of 2019, Sawant and residents of the Central District’s Chateau Apartments said concessions made by the property’s owner were unprecedented after rallies and press conferences targeted the complex. In that agreement, Cadence Real Estate met demands including allowing the building’s Section 8 tenants to remain in their units until the building is eventually demolished to make way for a new microhousing project with 73 “small efficiency dwelling units.” The company said it also agreed to provide $5,000 to every household living in the building on top of legally required relocation assistance.
Despite heading into what is shaping up to be the largest political battle in a string of election challenges for the longest sitting member of the city council, Sawant has continued to push elements of her agenda this fall including a so far unsuccessful call for legislative support for construction workers in the city, and a rekindled campaign for rent control in Seattle.
Immediately following the November 2nd General Election, expect the fight over Sawant’s council seat to flare up with ballots going out later that month for a December 7th special recall vote only for District 3 citizens.
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