# 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:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/41 "2005-06-03T21:01:07Z")
It seems to me that, if churches in NJ are anything like the ones we have down here (doubtful, but possible), you could seriously live in a church forever without bothering anyone. I’m not exactly suggesting it, but just trying to get you to better understand your options. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/42 "2005-06-03T21:14:14Z")
Annie, you’re in NJ right? Check this [site](http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/placeilive/rent/tenantsrights.cfm#inccontrol) out. 3/4ths of the way down the page is a section on “hardship stays” which could let a judge grant you more time to move. Further down is chapter 13, special programs for tenants. Things like homelessness prevention, relocation assistance, etc. The town is allowing the church to kick you out on your tail, they also have programs to help get you back in an apartment. Use their services. ---
**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, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/43 "2005-06-03T21:14:43Z")
> [@MaryEFoo](#): > > 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. “Spoil their plan?” Fer cryin’ out loud, it’s not some evil plot to take over the world. The building was sold, the tenants have been given ample eviction notice. What legal recourse could the tenants possibly have? > [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > It may not make business sense, but people need places to live in. I don’t see where “business sense” enters into this. The church needs a parking lot, so they purchased property that was for sale. How is this wrong, unethical, unChristian, etc.? > [@](#): > > I don’t blame the OP one bit for her resentment of the fact that people who have more money are pushing her out. There are always going to be people with more money who get what people with less money want. It doesn’t make the people with more money wrong, unethical, unChristian, etc. The situation is unfortunate, but worthy of resentment? To the degree I’ve seen in this thread? Hardly. And again I will ask: why is the church being villified here? Why isn’t anyone threatening to go to the media about the person who _sold_ the damn building in the first place? > [@fetus](#): > > What a great idea! Really? What do you think would be gained? > [@](#): > > They’re also being unethical by tearing down the only affordable housing in the area We have no reason to believe that it’s “the only affordable housing in the area” – it’s just the only housing that _ **Annie** _ can afford in the area, and the only reason for _that_ is rent control. It’s not like they’re tearing down a subsidized high-rise. Seriously, folks, look into the grip thing I mentioned earlier… ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/44 "2005-06-04T01:41:58Z")
> [@](#): > > “Spoil their plan?” Fer cryin’ out loud, it’s not some evil plot to take over the world. The building was sold, the tenants have been given ample eviction notice. What legal recourse could the tenants possibly have? I didn’t mean to say the new owners are evil, but rather that **Annie-Xmas** and the other tenants can very legitimately research the law and find if it actually is legal for a rent-controlled building to become non-rent-controlled just by being sold, for instance. Laws are publicly on books and allow people to make rational plans for their actions. If the church is trying to bluff the tenants out, for instance, they would be out of luck; if **Annie** is out of luck however, she’s better off knowing it now so she can get to work on her next step. I well understand what you mean about the emotional basis of the resistance to the eviction, because if the church is acting legally, society isn’t supposed to mess people up who are following the written rules. I’m not in favor of giant, protracted, expensive, messy squabbles during which the tenants don’t know where they stand and both sides are spending money and attention that could be put to better use. And, to say in no uncertain terms, I sympathize plenty with **Annie**. Such an eviction has to be a major kick in the stomach, and I hope it turns out for her just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538/45 "2005-06-04T02:57:57Z")
> [@MaryEFoo](#): > > I didn’t mean to say the new owners are evil, but rather that **Annie-Xmas** and the other tenants can very legitimately research the law and find if it actually is legal for a rent-controlled building to become non-rent-controlled just by being sold, for instance. IANAL, but I think that the church is within the law. The old owner’s petition for condemnation was denied because it was inappropriate. Condemnation is the act of declaring a building to be unfit for human habitation. It’s something that you do because you want to tear down the building, not because you want an excuse to raise the rent. The church, however, does want to tear down the building, so condemnation was an approriate step for them. Clout has nothing to do with it. Again, I do sympathize with **Annie’s** plight. I like the apartment where I’m living, and I’d hate it if the owners decided that they were going to tear down the complex and put in a golf course or something. But, ultimately, I don’t own the building or the land; I just rent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-paving-my-apartment-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/306538.md?page=2)