‘Eyesore’ or beautiful gardens?
HASLETT, Mich. (WLNS) – People who live at Grange Acres Apartments in Haslett have been planting and keeping gardens for as long as they can remember. That is, until a notice from First Housing Corporation that it would all come to an end on May 31st.
Susan Hughes is a resident at Grange Acres – and she used to have a beautiful garden and patio. Now, her plants have been dug up. She was confused after learning that her outside decorations needed to be taken down.
“They included a flyer, I believe, in the first April newsletter,” Hughes said. “It was just a page that said that they were going to remove everything from the outside. They did gardens, flags, and bird feeders. Everything was to be removed.”
Susan says patios and gardens were never a problem before, but an official with the apartment complex says they were never allowed.
Susan sent two letters and talked to management – with no luck. Many people have already decided to remove their gardens and decor.
“I went down to talk to the manager, and I was told in no uncertain terms that…they have voted and First Housing is going to do what they want to do,” said Hughes.
Susan has already given away a majority of what used to be the garden in front of her home.
“I intend to give as [much] away as I can,” she continued. “I would rather see [it] live on than get dug up and tossed away.”
She says they are more than just flowers, bird feeders, and flags. Many of her plants were heirlooms and she used to put out an American flag on holidays to honor her son who is disabled from serving in Afghanistan.
“It’s breaking my heart. I valued having everything,” Susan said. “I’m not sure I can explain to my son why I can’t fly the flag.”
A representative for the management company says they’ve been trying to work with the residents, but people’s areas have become an “eyesore”.
Susan says about 130 people have signed a petition to keep their things the way they are, but many are afraid to speak out, worried they may lose their homes.
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