# They're paving my apartment to put up a parking lot **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538 "2005-06-02T12:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/21 "2005-06-02T19:17:37Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Really? Talk about this more, please. I am very interested. [No.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6220211&postcount=7) ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/22 "2005-06-02T19:20:03Z")
_snogs and hugs for **Annie** _ ☹ _wanders off trying to get Joni Mitchell out of her head_ ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/23 "2005-06-02T19:26:03Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > [No.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6220211&postcount=7) [Don’t let the forum stop you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6221564#post6221564) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/24 "2005-06-02T19:28:06Z")
I’m so sorry to hear this. Maybe a friend would let you stay with them for a while? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/25 "2005-06-02T19:32:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I’ve been served with an eviction notice. I have heard property owners gripe about eviction law, and how difficult it is to evict someone. How long does it give you? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/26 "2005-06-02T20:11:40Z")
Since they didn’t have us sign leases with them after they bought the building, we’re on month-to-month tenancy. They’ve given everyone two months to vacate. Of course, they waited till AFTER I paid June’s rent to serve notice, which is also annoying me. And they’re also claiming that they received no security money from the old landlord. Only a Church could get away with this. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/27 "2005-06-02T20:55:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Only a Church could get away with this. I would hang a crucifix on my door if I were you. Upside down. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/28 "2005-06-02T21:36:25Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The church across the street bought the building and the vacant lot next door to put up a parking lot. Have you considered asking the church for help finding a new place to live? They may or may not be of any use, but it can’t hurt to ask. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/29 "2005-06-02T22:14:59Z")
What is your apartment building like anyway? Around here, if a place gets condemned, then it’s because the building is either structurally unsound, or it’s a dilapidated rat-infested shithole. And you mentioned that the old owner wated to fix the place up and raise the rent. I suspect that the building cost more in maintenance than it was making from rent. That said, it certainly sucks that you’re being forced to move. I hope you find a place that you can afford. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/30 "2005-06-02T23:00:16Z")
It’s just like they always say…you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/31 "2005-06-02T23:29:33Z")
Hey, with any luck the church will build a homeless shelter. :smack: I’m sorry you are having to go through this. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/32 "2005-06-02T23:47:10Z")
**Annie-Xmas** , forgive me if I’m missing something, but why are you taking this lying down? **Sunspace** was right…you could do some damage to the church’s reputation by making some noise. At the very worst, the church may help you find some low-rent housing just to shut you up. Or, if you’re lucky, they’ll stash you in a nicer apartment for comparable rent. Talk to their pastor. Talk to your local news station. Talk to _someone_ – just don’t let them bend you over the altar like this. Love thy neighbor, indeed. :rolleyes: It’s amazing how much people will bend ethics for the sake of business. Adam ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/33 "2005-06-03T00:18:43Z")
Oh Christ, **Annie** , that’s awful. I’m with those about making a stink to the media. They should lap this up like kittens with a bowl of cream. What kind of church is this, btw? Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/34 "2005-06-03T00:33:05Z")
> [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > Love thy neighbor, indeed. :rolleyes: It’s amazing how much people will bend ethics for the sake of business. I don’t understand this sentiment. I don’t see how the church is doing anything unethical unless they’re lying about not receiving security deposits from the previous owners. I’m sorry this happened to you **Annie** , and I can understand your dislike for the church, but they bought the property. What makes you eternally entitled to rent at 1/2 the market rate? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/35 "2005-06-03T02:41:17Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > I don’t understand this sentiment. I don’t see how the church is doing anything unethical unless they’re lying about not receiving security deposits from the previous owners. > > I’m sorry this happened to you **Annie** , and I can understand your dislike for the church, but they bought the property. What makes you eternally entitled to rent at 1/2 the market rate? I look at this as the church putting its own profit forst and avoiding a chance to help some of its community. (I won’t say _parishioners_, because I don’t know what kind of church it is or whether **Annie-Xmas** is a member.) I have a feeling there is more to be known about the behaviour and dealings of this church. I can sort of see evicting the tenants if the church wanted to expand its building onto the apartment site, but evicting them for a _parking lot_??? Evicting them for mere _convenience_? What is the master plan they are following? Who proposed and approved it? Who would be building and managing the parking lot? Was this plan in the works when the church bought the building? Above all, _follow the money_. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/36 "2005-06-03T03:15:03Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I look at this as the church putting its own profit forst and avoiding a chance to help some of its community. How is the church going to profit from a _parking lot_? Besides, like **iamthewalrus(:3=** said, they bought the property fair and square … why is no one up in arms about whoever _sold_ the building? The previous owner, who was shady enough to try and get the place condemned just so they could kick everyone out and eventually raise rents? > [@](#): > > I can sort of see evicting the tenants if the church wanted to expand its building onto the apartment site, but evicting them for a parking lot??? Evicting them for mere convenience? What is the master plan they are following? Who proposed and approved it? Who would be building and managing the parking lot? Was this plan in the works when the church bought the building? What is so wrong with a church needing more room for parking, and buying property in order to fill that need? Why do they need a “master plan?” What kind of management does a parking lot require, anyway? It’s obvious that this plan was in the works when the church bought the building, because _it’s the reason they bought the building_! Like others, **Annie** , I’m sorry that you’re being evicted. But for crying out loud, you’ve been given 60 days notice (which has been standard with every lease I’ve ever had – _regardless_ of the length of the lease term), and the church hasn’t done anything wrong. Frankly, statements like “Only a Church could get away with this” and “Unfortunately, because the church has a lot of clout, the City approved their plan” make you less sympathetic in my eyes. Stop blaming them for your unfortunate circumstances … as I suggested in my first post in this thread, they might even be able to help you! The folks who think that there’s anything worth notifying the media about need to get a serious grip! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/37 "2005-06-03T07:21:30Z")
Seems you could check out applicable laws and city/county ordinances, and see if you and the other tenants can spoil their plan, and stay. Better to be realistic as possible about it before you start the fight. Or, pursue low-cost housing as you propose. Or, pursue increased income. Sometimes this kind of kick in the butt works for you. But pls don’t go for homelessness! Pick one of the above and get serious about it! ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/38 "2005-06-03T17:45:52Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I can sort of see evicting the tenants if the church wanted to expand its building onto the apartment site, but evicting them for a _parking lot_??? Evicting them for mere _convenience_? What if that convenience makes the difference between people getting to come worship at the place they choose. Again, they bought the property, they’re going to use it. As far as we’ve heard, there’s no hypocrisy, profit mongering, or shady dealings taking place. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/39 "2005-06-03T20:21:17Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > I’m sorry this happened to you **Annie** , and I can understand your dislike for the church, but they bought the property. What makes you eternally entitled to rent at 1/2 the market rate? It may not make business sense, but people need places to live in. Just like we still need airlines, even though they don’t make a whale of business sense either. I don’t blame the OP one bit for her resentment of the fact that people who have more money are pushing her out. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/40 "2005-06-03T20:42:42Z")
Best of luck to you, **Annie-Xmas**. I hope things get better. I would offer to help, but it’d probably pretty much involve you living in northwestern Florida, and it sounds like you really don’t want to do that. Feel free to email me if you have a change of heart or if there’s any other way I can help, though. > [@Sunspace](#): > > I think you should raise a royal stink to all the media you can find. Picket the church, even. Even if it is too late for your apartment, you could still do some damage to their reputation as helpers of the less-fortunate… What a great idea! **Annie** : Where in California did you live? It’s a pretty big state, so I’m curious. > [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > I don’t understand this sentiment. I don’t see how the church is doing anything unethical unless they’re lying about not receiving security deposits from the previous owners. Sounds like they are. They’re also being unethical by tearing down the only affordable housing in the area and throwing probably at least a few more people than **Annie** , contrary to the humanitarian image most churches seem to try to foster. > [@Sunspace](#): > > I can sort of see evicting the tenants if the church wanted to expand its building onto the apartment site, but evicting them for a parking lot??? Evicting them for mere convenience? What is the master plan they are following? Who proposed and approved it? I bet they have a good idea Whose plan it is. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538.md?page=3)