Tenants of Hamilton Square and Hillcrest Apartments in Dowagiac were surprised to learn last week that they will no longer be able to reside at their apartments after their lease expires.
Their apartments will soon be renovated and converted into Native American housing by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, who are in the process of purchasing the buildings.
Several residents spoke to WMMT News Channel 3, saying they were concerned about finding a new place to live.
“They could’ve told us, put the bug in our ear, hey this is what’s going to go on, maybe we could’ve started sooner than later,” said Mai Vera Brooks, an 11-year-resident who spoke to WMMT. “Now, everybody is in a predicament.”
Hillcrest resident James Griffin also told WMMT “It’s hard to rent now these days with this happening, it’s kind of scary.”
A media relations representative for the Pokagon Band said the WMMT report came before the purchase had closed, and shared the following statement from the tribe:
“The Pokagon Band was approached by the current owner about purchasing the properties, and due to high demand from its citizens, decided to move forward with the goal of renovating and converting these properties for use as Tribal Housing. Funding for Native American Housing requires that tenants be Tribal Citizens.
The Current residents of Hamilton Square and Hillcrest Apartments are not being evicted and will be able to stay in their properties through the remainder of their leases. The Pokagon Band will also provide relocation assistance and work collaboratively with existing tenants to make the transition as easy as possible and help ensure they have new properties to relocate to. This coordination may include providing additional time to move and working with other property managers that have rental units available.”
The complexes currently have 96 total units, and the tribe says it will continue to contact each tenant individually to ease the transition and ensure a new property to relocate to.
The city of Dowagiac also will be compiling a list of available properties as a resource for tenants, according to City Manager Kevin Anderson.
