Orange Must Act Now to Protect Tenants : Early Eviction Order Means Villa Santiago Residents Will Lose Money to Relocate

The Villa Santiago apartments in Orange have a sad history. Now city officials must ensure conditions do not get even worse.

Last month the owner of the apartment complex sent eviction notices to dozens of the more than 1,000 tenants, ordering them to vacate by the middle of this month. Those forced out would lose relocation benefits that could add up to about $5,000 per family.

The reason for the benefits is that the complex is due for an overdue renovation--by new owners. Evicting the tenants before they are entitled to benefits will not gain anything for the current owner because it will be the new buyers who will pay the benefits. There is no reason to force good tenants to look for another place to live before renovation begins. The city should take steps to see it does not happen.

The City of Orange and a private developer plan to buy the complex, where nearly half the 260 units are abandoned and boarded up. The apartments will be renovated and leased at affordable rents, according to the developer. That is a good development; Orange County badly needs more affordable housing.

City officials said they have had complaints about bad conditions at the apartments, formerly known as Orange Park Villas, for years. The owner corrected some conditions when the city complained, but others led to court fights.

Four years ago, Border Patrol officers, local police and city code enforcement officers raided the complex. The attempt to crack down on illegal immigrants, best done at the border, understandably caused resentment and allegations of infringement of rights of law-abiding residents. Tenants complained that doors were kicked in and other property damaged. The INS was forced to investigate the raid and review its tactics.

The apartment complex was and is home mostly to low-income Latinos, the majority of whom work as busboys, maids and day laborers. The average occupancy is nine people in a two-bedroom unit, according to one survey. Rents range from $750 to $1,000 per month.

City officials have promised to pay about $5,000 per family in moving expenses and rent subsidies when tenants are forced to leave because of the renovation. The city’s mayor said relocation workers will try to find homes for the residents as close as possible to their present ones.

That is fair. New ownership should benefit the city, the tenants and neighbors of the Villa Santiago.