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Residents tell council Artist Lofts residents are paying rent into escrow as ownership pursues bankruptcy
Summary
During public comment, Mount Rainier Artist Lofts residents told the mayor and council that management filed for bankruptcy while residents have been paying rent into escrow and contesting eviction notices; council said staff would continue to coordinate with redevelopment authorities and a state senator’s office.
Tony George, a resident and public commenter, told the Mount Rainier mayor and council April 7 that residents of the Mount Rainier Artist Lofts are contesting a management‑led eviction and that the building’s owner recently filed for bankruptcy.
"It is public knowledge at this point that the owners of the Mount Rainier Artist Lofts Art Space has filed for bankruptcy recently," Tony George said during public comment. He said residents had been directed by management to pay back rent and late fees they had not been notified about, that residents had opened an escrow account and were continuing to deposit rent while legal challenges proceed.
George described earlier interactions with the county redevelopment authority and with a state official, saying an inspection occurred Feb. 26 and that residents had sought help from "Senator Augustine" and other partners. "This conversation started back in October 2025," George said, and he told the council residents remain "actively fighting this situation." He also described deferred maintenance—an elevator out of service for 11 months and a trash‑management problem reported to code compliance.
Mayor Selena Benitez acknowledged the issue and said Ward 2 representatives and the city manager had met with the building’s managers and the redevelopment authority; she said the city is aware and collaborating with partners and the senator’s office to identify capital‑improvement funding. "We will continue working along to figure out what else we can do on our end," the mayor said.
The council did not take formal action during the public‑comment period but staff and council members said they would continue to coordinate with county and state partners and report back to residents. The comment session also included complaints from residents about reduced remote connection options for meetings and a request for clearer public notice when virtual access is unavailable.
The city manager said meeting video recordings will be posted to the city website within 48–72 hours and that staff will publish the Facebook link and other connection details for future meetings.
The council did not vote on any action specific to Artist Lofts during the meeting.
