FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wedington Place Senior Apartments in Fayetteville is increasing rent by over 50% for some, to over 70% for others, leaving residents to consider other housing alternatives.
On Aug. 15, residents and concerned community members met to discuss potential solutions. Rosa Floyd, whose parents rent in the complex, organized the information session for residents to come out and hear from resources and stakeholders in the community.
"My parents, their rent is going up from $750 to $1150 which is a 53% increase. One-bedroom units are going up from $520 to $900 which is a 73% increase," Floyd said. "It's about helping them to feel heard. It's about making sure they know the resources that are available in the community and through the government."
Ford invited people from the city of Fayetteville, the state, as well as local nonprofits that could help residents get the resources they need, even if they wanted to stay at the complex for much more money.
"I wanted them to feel heard, cared for, loved, and I wanted to call our community to action to say we can do better. Let's get some people in the room who do resources," Floyd said. "We are going to not let them fall through the cracks."
Wedington Place was recently sold to an out-of-state entity run by an agent in Little Rock with Ace Telluride-AR, LLC. The LLC was registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office in April 2024. The registered agent for this LLC is J. Cliff McKinney. 5NEWS reached out to the Little Rock agent but has not heard back.
The office manager of the complex said over half the residents living here pay privately, meaning they don't get assistance from Veteran Affairs or Housing and Urban Development.
State Senator Greg Leding attended the meeting and expressed how he's been involved in the fight for renter rights in the state for over 10 years. The issue hasn't seen much success.
"Arkansas is literally the worst state for renters in the country" Leding said. "Unfortunately, every single effort has come up short, thanks in large part to opposition from the Arkansas Realtors Association and then the fact that so many legislators are themselves landlords."
Trevva Janson has lived at Wedington Place for over eight years. After the rate increase that will bring her rent to $900 a month, she said she's rethinking her living situation.
"I've been more social here than I ever have in any place in my life, but now it's going to be all over with," Janson said. "How dare they? How dare they do this to elderly people?"
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