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Independent Voice

Heritage Commons: "I Don't Feel Safe Here Anymore"

May 03, 2021 12:00AM ● By Debra Dingman

Heritage Commons is an affordable housing complex in Dixon where residents are facing growing concerns of crime and parking. Photo by Debra Dingman

This story has more components and will continue in the next edition

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Heritage Commons is an affordable Senior housing community located at 191 Heritage Lane and positioned along South First Street across from the Valley Glen Subdivisions. The first was built in 2013 with the additional buildings built about every two years. The 2 and 3-story apartment complexes feature community gardens, social services and a therapy pool with stabilizing bar and seats for resident’s enjoyment. Sounds lovely, but voiceful residents say there is high turnover in managers and unresponsive staff that has mounted to at least one fist-to-cuff over parking, onsite drug activity, an alleged rape, a fire from someone trying to cook meth, and concerns that the apartments are “beginning to turn into a slum.”

“In the last three months, the police have been out here two to three times a week and the staff covers up and covers up,” reported one resident who requested anonymity. “It’s a matter of time before someone gets killed and this is supposed to be a senior residence."

What is Heritage Commons

In contrast, their website reads: “Reaching beyond the traditional management services of maintenance and budgeting, we strive to create community environments that foster high levels of physical, social, and emotional well-being among residents.”

This large Dixon apartment complex is a “senior property,” according to Lyn Vaught of the John Stewart Company Sacramento Regional Office. “We are not the owners. We are only the managers.” The company offers professional property management, construction management services, new project financing, or a joint venture development partner with their company.

Their website boasts of serving customers with over 1,400 employees in five offices across California that includes a portfolio of over 400 properties, more than 30,000 residential units that house over 100,000 California residents.

They are the largest private manager of supportive housing and “special needs” housing in California. These properties provide both affordable housing and specialized supportive services to a wide range of target populations, including formerly homeless, mentally ill, physically disabled, HIV/AIDS and substance dependent households.

Since this property has received funding in part through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, a certain number of units are set aside for lower income households. The newspaper has requested information about whether those units are required to be 55 and over or not and we'll be reporting more in the next edition.

In Dixon, there are currently 120 units in four 3-story apartments with Heritage Commons 3 in process of being built which will add 45 more units in two separate buildings.

They employ a small staff such as janitor, Assistant Manager, and social services coordinator in addition to the full-time Manager.

Residents’ Complaints

“I do not feel safe and in the last four months, I’ve added a bat and an ax by my front door,” said another resident after witnessing a “drug bust” on the premises. One resident told of a bare-chested man who was “higher than a kite” who knocked on her door at 1 am. The man had a knife.

Another resident said the tenant below her had a fire--and then a flood--from “someone trying to cook meth.” There are alleged “weekly drug deals.” The Assistant Manager and staff were unaware of these incidents.

Some residents say that management is allowing “disabled younger people, not seniors” or low-income people who are not seniors to reside there and that those people are bringing their troublesome friends and even staying inside the homes as “permanent guests” when they are not supposed to. One man was sleeping in a tenant’s car, they said.

Residents are given conflicting information about who to address their concerns adding to the confusion of whether or not they should call when there is an issue.

“We don’t get involved. We are like anyone else’s community. If you see something, call the cops,” said Social Services Coordinator Deborah Dockter who has worked at Heritage Commons for the past four years. “We are not a ‘facility.’ We are a ‘community,’ therefore each person is responsible for their own self.” She can refer to get help, she added, and can refer to In Home Health Services (IHHS) or other resources.

However, Assistant Manager Jay Williams said, “The police or the ambulance do not communicate with us. How can we know there is a problem if they do not tell us?” Residents wanted to presume the office would know about police actions on site but Dockter nor Williams were aware of any. The office hours are posted as Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm but are closed Wednesdays. Residents say there is rarely someone to answer the phone and after repeated attempts, the newspaper’s calls also went unanswered.

The police do say they have increased patrolling the area but that was due to the construction going on which often brings thieves due to the high return for equipment, they said. A request for records is pending.

“Our screening procedures are careful and thorough. We perform background checks, call references and conduct family interviews. We verify income and assure compliance with housing assistance programs, when applicable,” their website reads.

Numerous attempts to reach Carissa Estrada, who is responsible for Dixon’s complex and has a phone number at the Sacramento Regional office, have been unsuccessful, however, this story has more components and will continue in the next edition.