West Farms tenants rallied for answers amid relocation. Management heard them out

Rezoning that happened in 2016 plans to tear down the Lambert Houses and place the residents in new affordable homes that are still under construction and located ​just across the street.

News 12 Staff

Apr 6, 2024, 10:56 PM

Updated 187 days ago

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West Farms tenants rallied Saturday to voice their concerns over the new apartment where they are to relocate -- and management showed up to hear them.
Rezoning that happened in 2016 plans to tear down the Lambert Houses and place the residents in new affordable homes that are still under construction and located ​just across the street.
Tenants at the rally wanted to know what the rent is going to be, among other questions.
Matthew Washington, the vice president at Phipps Houses, was there with the goal of answering those questions.
"[We're] here to listen. We don't see this as an 'us versus them' thing," Washington said.
Washington took notes and handed out business cards to tenants while residents held signs that read such messages like "out of order."
Washington said the new apartments will hopefully eliminate the issues tenants are currently experiencing at the Lambert Houses.
"When we're finished, we'll first give all of our residents new apartments in amenity-rich buildings," he said.
Washington added Phipps Houses is in the process of hiring more staff to help manage the new larger scale buildings.