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Artspace and Asset Living defend Space to Create operations as residents press management on cleanliness and certifications
Summary
Artspace Projects and asset manager Asset Living told council they are committed to the Space to Create project's mission and continuing operations; residents at the meeting pressed managers about repeated recertifications, turnover, cleanliness and a problematic tenant, and managers said certifications are legally required and staff changes have been made.
Representatives from Artspace Projects and Asset Living briefed the council on operations at the Space to Create property and answered resident concerns about management and resident certification requirements.
Andrew Michaelson of Artspace said he and colleagues toured the building, were pleased with most conditions and are committed to maintaining open communication with the town and the property's management. "I'm Andrew Michaelson. I'm from Artspace Projects," he told the council as he introduced the management team.
Josh Morris, regional vice president for Asset Living, said the property currently had three vacancies with one apartment in the process of moving in and that managers were prioritizing local applicants and artists for openings. "We have three apartments vacant here with one in the process of moving in," he said, noting that some units are restricted to 60% AMI and that those thresholds make leasing more challenging.
Several residents raised problems with turnover of property managers, repeated income recertification requests, and a lack of consistent cleaning. Alex Mard, a resident who said he has lived at the property since it opened, asked why tenants were sometimes required to re-certify income more than once a year. Maria, the onsite assistant community manager, explained that recertifications are a legal requirement (and sometimes triggered by changes in household composition) and that late filings and management transitions had caused scheduling overlap; she said staff is working to return to routine annual re-certifications.
Other residents described persistent cleanliness issues in common areas; managers said staffing and service contracts have been adjusted and that eviction steps have been used against a tenant involved in ongoing illegal activity.
What happens next: Artspace and Asset Living will continue coordination with town staff, and managers said they would work to reduce repeated certification burdens and improve cleaning schedules. Council asked staff to follow up on state funding implications (pet policy and financing) and to circulate the property's certification and vacancy procedures to council and residents.
