Some of the last affordable apartments in Nashville have begun renovations and tenants were told to pay more or find a new place to live.
Tenants at the Howe Garden Apartments on Greenwood Avenue said they received a letter about two weeks ago letting them know their lease would not be honored and they had to 30 days to move out.
If they chose to stay, they'd have to pay a 50% rent increase. Just recently, they got another letter saying there was some sort of miscommunication and they will honor their leases after all, but that's not making anyone feel better considering the rent will still be going up no matter what.
"Some people were paying $550 a month for a one bedroom and their rent is doubling to $1100 a month. Mine's not doubling mine's like $750 for a two bedroom and that will be going up to 12-hundred as a starting price it might be higher than that," said Kevin Doyle a resident at Howe Garden Apartments.
Doyle and a group of residents will be meeting Thursday to get legal advice and look for a solution.
Unfortunately the same thing is happening at 500 Fifth Apartments on James Robertson Parkway.
The building was undergoing renovations and according to one tenant, the rent is being increased without an affordable option.
Nashville Organized for Action And Hope said the affordable housing situation was in crisis but the solution wasn't simple. "Our goal is to make Nashville the it city all it's residents not just for the small elite that can afford these high rents," said Nell Levin with N.O.L.A.
The group will be meeting with Howe Garden tenants Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Eastwood Christian Church.
