How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?

How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?
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Questionable Business Practices

• Why do hedge-fund investors, partners, and the on-site property managers at Rockland Place Apartments dba Spring Gate tell tenants that First Hartford Realty Corporation (FHRC) is managing the 204-unit subsidized housing complex in Rockland, Mass. when Connolly and Partners, LLC is listed as manager? 
• Tenants have been told by Management that Rockland Place Apartments was renamed to SpringGate Apartments; yet, there are no official documents listed with that new name on the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website.  Neil Ellis, another investor of that property, prefers to use the name Rockland Apartments in his annual reports for First Hartford Corp.  Why?

Renters Beware!

Gee, the abuse and mistreatment of  tenants from Cornerstone Corporation at Pleasant Plaza Apartments or Malden Gardens reads like it could've been a review of Management's abusive behavior at Rockland Place or Spring Gate Apartments in Rockland, MA and even the mistreatment of tenants at Clarendon Hill Towers in Somerville.
       Cornerstone Corporation of Westwood, Mass. is known for not having to comply with The Fair Housing Act on numerous subsidized properties. First Amendment Rights for low-income residents would be abolished if it were up to people at Cornerstone.   They have quite a history of retaliating against tenants who dare exercise their American rights.  From deliberate destruction and theft of tenants' personal property to numerous frivolous eviction proceedings, Cornerstone and associates will go out of their way to violate any vulnerable tenant voicing a legitimate concern.  Obviously, deliberate acts of abuse and oppression by corporate landlords in subsidized housing doesn't really matter to HUD or MassHousing. 
      MassHousing recently announced a loan closing of $26.5 million at the 236-unit Sherwood Village apartment community for senior citizens at 145 Mill St., Natick.   As a condition of the loan, Fairway Estates Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Cornerstone Corp., which owns Sherwood Village, will seek to extend its federal Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract and the affordability on 235 apartments for the longest term possible - typically 20 years - when the current HAP contract expires in February 2014.  As part of the refinancing, a number of capital improvements are expected, including intercom panel system upgrades, refurbishment of pumps connected to common area sprinklers and some minor HVAC work.  Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/business/x715752696/Business-Digest-for-05-03-13#ixzz2TrReICid

Loaded ?

Yesterday, May 11, 2013: Rockland Police were called at approximately 3:45pm for a found gun.  Yes, children from Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments, playing in the wooded area behind 51 Hannah Way, discovered another gun.  The previous gun, found along Martha Drive, was loaded. (Read archives.)

     All residents should have received the Spring 2013 SpringGate Newsletter by now!   No word on how often to expect its sporadic publication though.  By the way, there was no extra notice attached to the newsletter from the Rockland Sewer Dept., as the newsletter read there would be.  A meeting to plan some community gardening was mentioned.

     According to Management, a new security company called U.S. Security Associates Inc. began monitoring the property on May 7, 2013.  Hopefully this security company will be more useful than the previous security guard who hung out with resident drug dealers, drank, and slept on the job.  Of course, security companies may be limited to clean up crime by those who hire them.  Afterall, it wouldn't be the first time Management set up a sense of false security for decent residents while allowing those with criminal histories on the property. -- Seems these corporate landlords are more determined to keep cameras out of common areas than guns and needles. 

Torture, Attempted Murder at Spring Gate Apts.

  Based on experiences inside a Rockland housing complex, illegal drug deals, negligent management and other lax authorities are responsible for much of the ongoing criminal behavior occurring at Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments in Rockland, Mass.  Competent screening of tenants, legitimate lease enforcements, with security cameras placed in common areas of this government-funded property could deter much of the 'unnoticed' crime.
    HUD does promise safe, decent, and affordable housing, but that hasn't existed for a very long time at this development, even with all the funding provided to the newly formed corporate partnerships in 2005.
    Newspaper articles and published police blotters appear hesitant to inform the general public of specific building numbers and apartments involved in crimes on Hannah Way and Martha Drive.  Most disturbances and break-ins fail to mention when cocaine and other drugs are involved at this place too.
   Recently, a woman was tortured for hours by several males inside one of the apartments at Spring Gate.... Based on a pathetic pattern over the past several years, I'm guessing this horrendous crime happened at 93 Martha Dr.  Read the gruesome details by clicking here....http://www.patriotledger.com/topstories/x1522332449/Police-say-Hanover-woman-tortured-by-gang-seeking-money?zc_p=0

More Hazardous Conditions at Spring Gate Apts.

With predicted blizzard conditions and children roaming through Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments, a loaded shotgun was found in a common area of the subsidized property, between building 74 and 82 Martha Drive on February 8, 2013 around 10:00 a.m.
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On January 25, 2013, William J. Littleton of 62 Martha Drive, Rockland was due back in court for charges of breaking and entering at night to commit a felony, larceny of property worth more than $250, carrying a dangerous weapon and receiving stolen property.  December 2012, Mr. Littleton was frisked and found to be carrying a 3-foot-long samurai sword, police said.  It appears a street drug made of ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine was discovered in the same incident.  Read more details at http://www.patriotledger.com/topstories/x1671796757/Cops-Men-stole-knives-samurai-sword-from-home-left-vacant-after-drug-raid

Updated Reports

--a brief look at the 'safe, decent,' subsidized housing offered by:
 DHCD, RHA, MassHousing, and HUD--
The Inside Out of Rockland Place Apartments
Rockland, Massachusetts 02370
Feb. 6, 2013:  Several times throughout the day, police cruisers entered and exited Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments.  About 4 p.m. police exited 93 Martha Drive again. They carried out a box and bag which appeared to be some type of evidence.
Feb. 4, 2013:  Dead body found over the weekend in a truck at the parking lot of the China Plaza Restaurant at 35 Market Street .  The matter is under investigation now, but more details should be coming forth later on in the day, according to a local newspaper and Police Lt. Nick Zeoli.
Feb. 1, 2013:  Rockland Police at 93 Martha Drive.
Jan. 26, 2013:  Police were called from Hannah Way about a fight and possible injury.
Jan. 25, 2013:  Transport to Brockton Hospital from entrance at Spring Gate for evaluation
Jan. 24, 2013:  Possible overdose at 92 Martha Drive
Jan. 21, 2013:  Fire alarm pulled at 93 Martha Drive and feces found by apartment door in hallway
Jan. 20, 2013:  Assault and battery at 93 Martha Drive
Jan. 14, 2013:  93 Martha Drive (see below, previous blog)
Jan. 11, 2013:  Property damage at 63 Martha Drive, apt. D (see below)
Jan. 10, 2013: about 12:10 a.m. Harrassment at 93 Martha Drive
-- about 5 p.m. Harassment at 45 Hannah Way, apt. B
Jan. 2, 2013:  7:30 a.m. Malicious damage to motor vehicle on Martha Drive
-- 9:32 a.m. Assist citizen on Martha Drive
Jan. 1, 2013: 12:12 a.m.- Disturbance and loud noise on Martha Drive
 -- Disturbance and assault and battery at 187 Martha Drive, apt. B
 -- about 3:10 a.m.- Disturbance by front area of Spring Gate Apts.
 -- 3:18 a.m.- Disturbance on Martha Drive
-- Protective custody at 150 Martha Drive
-- 11:23 p.m. Threats made on Martha Drive.
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After stories of mismanagement and corruption scandals in housing, Governor Deval Patrick outlined a proposal to reduce the amount of Housing Authorities in Massachusetts.  (Read details here.)

Twelve Hours on Martha Dr.

Monday - January 14, 2013
3:00 am: Rockland Police called to 93 Martha Drive due to loud music
6:15 am: Police called to 93 Martha Drive again.
7:00 am: Police called to 93 Martha Drive, apt. C by distraught woman
               speaking poor English.
7:25 am: Medical call to 93 Martha Drive, apt. B.  Caller taken out by ambulance.
7:30 am: Police return to 93 Martha Drive regarding previous upsets.
2:30 pm: Property manager calls police regarding lock change on door in vacant apartment at 93 Martha Drive, apt. D.  Unknown person discovered inside apartment, asked to leave premises.

Another Forced Entry

Friday, 1/11/2013: forced entry with malicious damage to door and other property at, and inside of, 63 Martha Drive, 2nd floor, Rockland, Mass.  Police were called; searched premises and surrounding area with Police dog.

Disregard for Residents with Disabilities

Thursday, 1/10/2013: around 12:05am,  93 Martha Drive, police were called due to a tenant with life-threatening medical issues being harassed by other tenants.
Thursday, 1/10/2013: around 5:00pm, a woman at 45 Hannah Way was harassed by other tenants.  Property manager and police were called.
Sunday, 1-6-2013: 100 Martha Drive, tenants were harassed by other tenants.  Attempted forced entry.
NOTE:  There are times when police aren't called because residents are told by Rockland Police they "can't do anything about an incident unless Police see it happen".  For this reason alone, this well-connected corporate landlord should keep their promises to install security cameras in common areas.
A typical pattern definitely continues to exist at Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments where households of tenants with legitimate medical disabilities get harassed.  In November/December 2012, another disabled resident became upset when her access was blocked on Hannah Way.   Since 1996 to present, residents living here with disabilities are often harassed and intimidated by other residents and even by Management.  Isn't it time for those in authority to finally put a stop to the illegal activities at this subsidized housing complex in Rockland, Massachusetts?  It has become an all too familiar pattern to disregard the rights of certain households.