By Jillian Butler
Residents of Mariner’s Cove Apartments in eastern Ocean Beach say years of deferred maintenance have left some affordable housing units with mold, deteriorating cabinetry, broken stairways and other unresolved problems, raising concerns about whether tenants in subsidized units are receiving the same level of maintenance as market-rate residents.
As the cost of living soars, many people turn to government programs in order to find a place to live. Being the ninth most expensive city in America, San Diego is no exception to this. In fact, there are approximately 80,300 people in San Diego County living in government subsidized housing. However, some landlords give preferential treatment to those not in subsidized housing, creating two separate classes of people.
Several sources have reached out to the OB Rag, citing negligence towards those in rent controlled units at the Mariner’s Cove Apartment complex. Issues range from mold to the landlord illegally painting over fire lanes.
Mariner’s Cove is a two story apartment complex with 500 units. Of those 500 units, 300 are considered “affordable”, with 100 being low income. Many such residents are elderly, have disabilities, or both.
One resident I spoke with recounts:
“For years, I have expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of ventilation and potential mold in my unit, as well as the deteriorating plywood and peeling veneer in my kitchen. These issues pose legitimate safety and health risks rather than cosmetic concerns. Although management acknowledges the poor bathroom ventilation and has previously patched a water-damaged wall, they have refused to test for mold. Furthermore, the deteriorating wood in my kitchen cabinets sheds debris onto my dishes every time the drawers are opened.
While management attributes this to termites and offers pest treatment, this does not repair the existing structural damage. I have been informed that as a tenant in an affordable housing unit (120% AMI), I am ineligible for upgrades. However, I am not requesting upgrades; I am requesting sanitary living conditions.”
This same resident stated that the stairways in many units break, and are only fixed when regional management visits the property. Management has also allowed the main gate to remain unrepaired, rendering it possible for anybody to enter the property.
Mold is a recurring problem, mentioned by all four of the sources that I spoke to. One man claimed that mold in his walls went untreated, with his chronically ill wife being exposed to it. Though many apartment units are out of date, the property manager will not renovate them until the tenants move out.
Examples of mold:
Beginning in May, Mariner’s Cove Apartment Complex underwent significant renovations. Granted the complex was built in 1984, these renovations are long overdue. However, residents are claiming that they are mere cosmetic band-aid fixes–not addressing the root issues of termites and mold.
For the residents who spoke with the OB Rag, the issue extends beyond outdated cabinets or aging buildings. They argue that tenants in affordable housing deserve the same standard of maintenance and habitability as anyone else. As San Diego continues to grapple with an affordable housing shortage, they say safe, sanitary living conditions should not depend on a tenant’s income or the type of lease they hold.
This place has been negligent with repairs for years and years and years… And what are they doing? Painting the new buildings white to really show the mold and mildew and painting the doors black to attract the heat in the summer.
We’re not allowed to have a ring camera here to protect ourselves but the Security that drives around watches the break-ins that happen and does nothing about it.
The theft that keeps occurring because we cannot adequately secure our apartments is dismissed as well by the management.
I totally agree these low income units need to be taken care of by the landlord. However, old cabinets, for example, don’t need to be replaced simply because they’re old. My grandmother’s house was built in the 1920’s, but her cabinets were old and fine. Mold happens mostly when there is no air circulation, and/or no sun light. people need to make sure they open windows, and/or pull the curtains/drapes/shades open so sun light if available can shine in. I lived 1/2 block off the beach outside of LA for a few months, and had to leave closet doors open and make sure sunlight could shine in the bedrooms so our clothes didn’t mold. People can help themselves to a point. When mold starts and they see it, mix up a clorox & water solution and spray it. Bleach water solution kills mold. Open the windows to clear out the smell of the bleach.