Tenants at Palmer Place in Independence split on whether to unionize over management

Several tenants and activists at Palmer Place, a senior living apartment in Independence, protested in front of the building Wednesday morning, chanting, “Palmer Place. We got your back.”

The Independence apartment complex houses 40 residents; 19 of which have joined KC Tenants, a local tenant union, after what they said have been years of threats, intimidation and harassment by the on-site property manager, an employee of Fairway Management. Attempts to speak to landlord Dale Schulte have been denied, they said.

Residents complained of being frequently screamed at, threatened with lease violations and said they have been retaliated against for helping their neighbors, asking for maintenance, and for what they talk about with other residents.

Another 19 tenants in the building have not come out in support of the efforts to unionize, some saying to The Star that they haven’t had an issue with management and that they believe those who receive violations clearly broke the lease agreement. KC Tenants said they are currently in talks with some of those residents.

“What you’ve heard today are not just isolated incidents, but a pattern of abusive behavior by the staff of Fairway Management,” said tenant Diane Sadler.

Sadler recalled being threatened with a violation after asking the former maintenance man to replace a light bulb in her apartment. She and others were later called into a meeting and told if they talked about the maintenance man or the fact that he was fired with anyone they would recieve a violation and could possibly be evicted.

Carl Caldwell said he had to pay a lawyer in order to stay in his apartment after receiving a lease non-renewal notice without good cause. He recalls not knowing if he would have a place to live. He said he was told by management it was for everything.

Another resident said he was unfairly accused of behavior he said he did not do, but believes it was in retaliation.

“I was given three lease violations in one day for supposedly smoking in my apartment during a time I was at work. I am being retaliated against for organizing with my neighbors,” said Bud Merriot.

However, Cindy Bryant said she woke up in the middle of the night to the smell of Merriot’s cigarettes. She said she and several other neighbors recounted the incident to management, which they said later got him a lease violation. That violation, KC Tenants points out, puts Merriot at risk of eviction over the unsettled dispute between neighbors.

Bryant moved in two years ago and heard her neighbors complain about property manager Kim Schwart but said she understood the rules and hasn’t had an issue with management.

Bryant and Gigi Harrington, also tenants, said that some residents are in their 90s, and claimed that others have physiological and possibly cognitive limitations, and as a result are getting lease violations for breaking the rules. They said they find Schwart to be helpful with food and financing, and said she has a good open door policy and hands out dog treats and candy to tenants.

“Many managers do not do that in apartment buildings for (people) 60 and older at all when it’s independent living because they don’t have to,” Bryant said.

Those against the unionizing said they respect the other side’s ability to express their opinion, but said the rules in the building are straightforward. They worry that protesting could lead the owner to sell the building and they could lose their homes.

Palmer Place, Fairway Management and Dale Schulte did not respond to requests for comment by The Star.

This story was originally published May 31, 2024 at 1:00 AM.