AYER — Residents of Devenscrest Village and their allies from surrounding communities lined Littleton Road Saturday afternoon as they rallied to stay in their homes.
In black T-shirts reading “We are Devenscrest, we shall not be moved, #DCStrong” they led chants and waved signs as passing cars and trucks from the adjacent Pepsi bottling plant honked in support. At one point, an ice cream truck and Neighborhood Superman made appearances.
The message on their shirts was the message of many who attended. Despite about 100 residents receiving a Notice to Quit their at-will tenancy in mid-July, they are continuing to pay their rent on time and asking landlord Brady Sullivan Properties to work with them. Although no evictions have been filed, an attorney for the landlord, Rob Anctil, has stated they intend to file eventually.
Sgt. John MacDonald from the Ayer Police Department estimated about 50 to 60 people attended Saturday’s rally. He said they were peaceful and the organizers had coordinated with the police department in advance to ensure the day was safe. Police were merely there for safety and a show of community support.
Some of the attendees are members of the newly formed Devenscrest tenant’s association. The group is hoping to negotiate with Devenscrest Management, a branch of Brady Sullivan Properties.
D’Amber Houle is a resident who joined the tenant’s association. She said the group’s goal is “just to stay in our homes, as long as possible, for a reasonable rate.”
“There’s really just nowhere to go. I understand that it’s a business but there has to be a more humane way to do it. So ultimately I would like to stay here,” Houle said.
Houle said the potential rent increases and residency requirements were “unobtainable” especially for a “working-class citizen” like her.
“I find a way to pay my rent, no matter what’s happening,” Houle said. “Even when my son was in the hospital for three months, the first thing I worried about was, ‘holy crap like how am I going to pay rent,’ not the fact that my son was fighting for his life — but how am I going to pay rent. I still managed to do it so I think that’s the biggest thing for me.”
While she said the Devenscrest neighborhood has always been a community, this has brought people even closer together. Still, she never thought she would have to move over the course of her 10 years living in her apartment.
“I just hope that maybe they have some sort of change of heart and actually look into who we are as people, and not that we’re just disposable at any time,” Houle said.
Devenscrest Management said in an email on Thursday rent prices and residency requirements have not yet been determined. Anctil had also said this at a meeting on July 29.
The company has stated the evictions are to make necessary repairs to the properties.
However, residents of Devenscrest maintain that the new rent prices, ranging from $1,800 to $2,100, have come from the landlord, as have the income requirements of $72,000 a year with a single income or $84,000 with dual incomes.
Residents said they understand the need for renovations but believe there is a better way to handle the situation.
Jason Neal said some residents have already left the neighborhood and others have plans to leave. He said the landlord hasn’t been very communicative with tenants, mostly contacting them through written notices. Larry Tocchi, his previous landlord, handled things better in his opinion.
“As far as complaints, Larry dealt with them in a just manner to me. He treated me fairly. Now we don’t have that anymore,” Neal said. “We don’t know who our landlord is. We don’t know what their intentions are. We don’t know anything about them besides what we read online.”
While Neal is not one of the residents facing eviction, he has been told to remove all belongings from his yard.
Over his 18 years in the neighborhood, people always cut their own grass. Those who can’t do their own help one another out. Now, the landlord wants to handle all landscaping in the neighborhood. It’s not just personal belongings, Neal said. It’s also trees, privacy fences and flower beds.
Recently, Brady Sullivan Properties announced they would offer financial incentives for residents to relocate. In an offer presented to one resident, there were four options:
Option 1: If the resident vacates by Aug. 31, they would receive $2,500. A written agreement must be in place by Aug. 30.
Option 2: If the resident vacates by Sept. 30, they would receive $2,000. A written agreement must be in place by Sept. 29.
Option 3: If the resident vacates by Oct. 31, they would receive $1,000. A written agreement must be in place by Sept. 30.
Option 4: If the resident vacates by Nov. 30, they would receive $500. A written agreement must be in place by Sept. 30.
Devenscrest Management confirmed these options are part of a relocation program it’s offering. The company said residents had reached out individually and it is working with them on an individual basis.
Resident Bill Barlow felt the options were a “drop in the bucket.”
He said, “$2,500 ain’t gonna do it. It’s not gonna pay for my first, last and security. It’s not going to pay for the move.”
As residents have tried to navigate all available options, state Rep. Dan Sena has been a staunch supporter. Sena said he identifies with the families being impacted.
At age 14, Sena immigrated to Acton from Brazil.
“Being an immigrant, I remember having to work and sometimes I had to help my mom with the rent,” Sena said. “So I know what it’s like to be renting and having to work to pay all of the bills and pay the rent and I sympathize so much because I feel I belong with these families. I really feel that is just not right. It’s an injustice.”
Sena said he is looking at legislative means of helping the residents. One of the bills Sena supports is H.1434 “An Act to prevent COVID-19 evictions and foreclosures and promote an equitable housing recovery.” The bill is also supported by state Rep. Jamie Eldridge, who represents Ayer.
If passed, the bill would halt no-fault evictions until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period. It would also require the state to adopt new policies for distributing rental assistance funds, in an effort to make the process quicker.
“I personally think that we need to make sure we’re fully funding agencies that issue those vouchers at the state level. I think the state has failed in so many ways,” Sena said. “I think this really just reminds us that we are in the housing crisis and we need to address it immediately, as soon as possible, because this is going to get worse if anything.”
Houle testified on the bill Thursday and emphasized the neighborhood is more than just “a dot on the map” to the State House Joint Committee on Housing. In her comments, she highlighted how many residents have lived there for decades, children attending the public school system, and the harm evictions could bring during a pandemic.
“(The bill) will protect people like us for at least another year, which will give us time,” Houle said. “Even though we want to say here, it will still give us time to figure out what we’re gonna do.”
Sena also said other pieces of legislation may be able to help, including an affordable housing production bill.
Some Devenscrest residents also stated they plan to attend the Ayer Select Board meeting on Tuesday night to request additional local support.