Families Forced Out of the Malden Apartment by School Forcibly Bought the Building – CBS Boston

MALDEN (CBS) – Tenants who live at 22 Lebanon Street in Malden are now speaking out against the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School after it acquired their building and will end their tenancy at the end of the month. .

Businesses located at the bottom of the building don’t have to move out until 2023, but three families living upstairs have been told to move out by December 31.

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“My 19 year old called me, she was like a mother, they just informed us. I was like what we didn’t even know they sold the building,” said tenant Bose Keinkeg.

“We were surprised because when they bought the property, they told us we could stay until April 2023,” said tenant Tatiane De Oliveira.

De Oliveria has lived in the building for nearly two decades with her husband and son and was shocked to find a letter pasted on her doorstep last month about the termination of her tenancy on December 31.

“We didn’t have anywhere to go or any money to put down a deposit for the rent, so it was something very scary for us,” De Oliveria said.

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According to local nonprofit Housing Families – even if the school moves to evict the tenant – they will have a time. They are also now protected under the city’s eviction ban.

“Although the initial announcement will say they have two weeks, they will have some time because everyone has to go through the court process,” said Family Housing CEO Laura Rosi.

“We will do whatever we can to support them and make sure their rights are respected as tenants,” said Malden City Councilman Stephen Winslow.

In response, Mystic Valley Area Charter School issued the following statement:

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“Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (MVRCS) purchased a residential/commercial property on Lebanon St. with the intention of using it for the eventual school expansion, with 2023 as the expected date of construction start. Since that time, the City of Malden has taken actions that prompt the school to accelerate the temporary steps it must take by 2023. Although the school has issued Notices of Vacancies to tenants such as As an initial step, MVRCS did not take the required second step, which is to file a petition under the summary process in the district court. Malden At Large City Councilor Craig Spadafora recently reached out to the school to facilitate constructive and solution-oriented dialogue. MVRCS looks forward to working with Councilmember Spadafora in the hope that we can come to a favorable resolution. ”