The City of Monrovia is located in the San Gabriel Valley, in the foot hills of a mountain range of the same name. Think "Valley Girls" and the Station Fire which burned nearby. North and east of Los Angeles.
There is an apartment complex where seniors and some developmentally disabled residents have lived in harmony for years. The place is close to shopping and transportation, residents feel safe, and some say it is their only hope for a place to call their own. Not a burden on their families.
Last month, they were notified that their leases were being terminated.
The Regency Court has been like this for over a decade. Some residents were placed in apartments after completing classes in adult life skills.
Two years ago a new Management Co. took over Regency Court, and now claims the apartments were never intended for this use and that residents under the age of sixty-two had to go.
Lily Hixon flung open her kitchen cupboards with pride. "Look," she said, doing a Vanna White impression as she gestured to boxes of cereal and crackers. "I like everything organized."
The one-bedroom Monrovia apartment decked out in Ikea has been Hixon's introduction to independent living, a privilege the 25-year-old born with Down syndrome still can't believe is hers. Built on an old rail yard, Regency Court Apartments is a quiet, mini-neighborhood of sage-green apartments and bungalows where Hixon greets neighbors with a wave
During the day, Matt works as a cart collector at Target and Laura clears tables at a hospital cafeteria. They take pleasure in simple things like making a dinner of enchiladas, balancing the family finances or going out for an ice cream shake. If the couple can't live at Regency Court, they worry they'll be forced to return to their families' homes and lose their independence.
"My dream was to have my own apartment, and that dream came true," Laura said. "I do not want to go back to living with my parents."
Some, like Frankie Mae Platt, don't even have that option. Platt won't turn 62 until next year and has been asked to leave.
For now, the Management has stopped the evictions. Governor Shwarzenegger held a press conf. at the site this morning,looking for a link.
Story from The LATimes.
Update.
'Nother story, Photo-Op.
From Pasadena Star-News.
Thanks, burrow owl.