Residents have signed a petition calling on management to hear them out and consider halting the fence removal plans and new fee for involuntary mowing services.
SAN ANTONIO — Residents of a west-side mobile home community are fed up and fearing for their safety after they say corporate management gave notice about the impending removal of property fencing.
Westwood Mobile Home Estates is located in the 7000 block of Military Drive West in San Antonio where tenants occupy more than 60 lots.
Community members have since come together attempting to contact management with no success.
Taylor and others living at Westwood Mobile Home Estates have experienced issues with homeless people entering the property. She worries such activity could escalate if fences and gates are taken down.
“They just come in anytime, any day, any hour,” Taylor said. “I’ve had some come into the vacant house next door and start a fire there.”
Lois Lopez, another tenant, has led the charge, organizing meetings to keep everyone informed. She noted how the community is home to many low-income residents, including older adults who would be negatively affected if the fences were removed. Dozens of people have signed a petition that calls for corporate management to halt the removal of the fences. The petition also urges management to not charge tenants for involuntary lawn mowing services.
Lopez also noted the financial burden felt by tenants if they were required to foot the bill of fence removal. As a possible alternative, Lopez and others are pushing for management to construct an entry gate to better control who enters and exits the neighborhood rather than removing the existing fencing altogether.
“I’m concerned about the homeless community coming more into our lots when we don’t have our fence up,” Lopez said. “Our concern is to put a main gate in the front, not take down our gates. That’s what we need to keep those people from coming in.”
Lopez plans to email a copy of the petition to corporate officials of whom she hasn’t been able to reach at this time. There’s no definitive answer for tenants at this time as to when the fence removal will take place.
“I think it would be best if they communicated with us to let us know what’s going to happen,” Taylor said.
KENS 5 reached out to Kingsley Management Corporation that owns Westwood Mobile Home Estates through texts, emails, and phone calls. There was no response as of June 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, residents plan to keep persistent in fighting for clarity on the issues they deem could jeopardize their safety and harm tenants financially.