Millville Housing Authority

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The Daily Journal
By JOEL LANDAU
Staff Writer
April 24, 2009

Authority, residents discuss management switch

No major changes will come to Millville senior housing complex, officials say

MILLVILLE -- Tenants at the Glasstown Residence at River Park met with the Millville Housing Authority at a special meeting Thursday about the agency's decision to cease its management of the complex less than a year after it opened.

Officials with the MHA and Interstate Realty Management Co. in Marlton -- which will replace the MHA as co-managers with Bitonti Development Co. in Wayne, Pa., on May 8 -- met with roughly 60 residents at the complex.

The meeting, held at the facility on South 2nd Street, was cordial as residents learned what the administrative change would mean to them.

Residents said they were surprised to hear the MHA decided to pull out of the affordable senior housing complex, which opened in June, but would be amendable to the transition as long as there were no major changes.

Federal law protects the property and its residents from changing its mission as an affordable housing complex for seniors.

Charles Durnin, Interstate regional vice president, said rent, quality of living and services would remain the same, adding there is a 40-year restriction on operations -- since the time the building opened. Interstate will keep staff members on site, and the leases would remain the same, and could not be terminated unless there was "good cause," he said.

"No one can change what you're experiencing today," he said. "No one wants to change what you're experiencing today."

Mary Ann Slaninko said she wasn't too concerned, but the transition still could be a little troublesome for residents.

"Old folks do not like change very much," she quipped.

Shirley Plumline said one of the reasons she chose to live at the complex was because the MHA was involved.

"We thought if it didn't work out for whatever reason, we could be transferred to another building," she said.

The process would remain the same for moving into a new facility, Durnin said.

The MHA made the change because it was liable for operating deficits at the complex in the first three years, and did not want to be in position to pay for any additional costs if something unforeseen happened.

The authority is still negotiating with Interstate to provide maintenance, security and senior services at the property.

"This is done for financial reasons only," said MHA Executive Director Paul Dice of the change.

	Press Release About Us > News & Press Releases > Press Release The Daily Journal By JOEL LANDAU Staff Writer April 24, 2009 Authority, residents discuss management switch No major changes will come to Millville senior housing complex, officials say MILLVILLE -- Tenants at the Glasstown Residence at River Park met with the Millville Housing Authority at a special meeting Thursday about the agency's decision to cease its management of the complex less than a year after it opened. Officials with the MHA and Interstate Realty Management Co. in Marlton -- which will replace the MHA as co-managers with Bitonti Development Co. in Wayne, Pa., on May 8 -- met with roughly 60 residents at the complex. The meeting, held at the facility on South 2nd Street, was cordial as residents learned what the administrative change would mean to them. Residents said they were surprised to hear the MHA decided to pull out of the affordable senior housing complex, which opened in June, but would be amendable to the transition as long as there were no major changes. Federal law protects the property and its residents from changing its mission as an affordable housing complex for seniors. Charles Durnin, Interstate regional vice president, said rent, quality of living and services would remain the same, adding there is a 40-year restriction on operations -- since the time the building opened. Interstate will keep staff members on site, and the leases would remain the same, and could not be terminated unless there was "good cause," he said. "No one can change what you're experiencing today," he said. "No one wants to change what you're experiencing today." Mary Ann Slaninko said she wasn't too concerned, but the transition still could be a little troublesome for residents. "Old folks do not like change very much," she quipped. Shirley Plumline said one of the reasons she chose to live at the complex was because the MHA was involved. "We thought if it didn't work out for whatever reason, we could be transferred to another building," she said. The process would remain the same for moving into a new facility, Durnin said. The MHA made the change because it was liable for operating deficits at the complex in the first three years, and did not want to be in position to pay for any additional costs if something unforeseen happened. The authority is still negotiating with Interstate to provide maintenance, security and senior services at the property. "This is done for financial reasons only," said MHA Executive Director Paul Dice of the change.