Collins Crossing sends eviction notice to resident

A resident at Collins Crossing Apartment Homes in Carrboro recently received an eviction notice after parking a work truck in the complex’s parking lot — and local officials are working to determine if this is an isolated incident.

The complex’s primary owner, Alcurt Carrboro LLC, has been under fire in recent months for what some residents say are unfair management practices.

Judith Blau, a former UNC sociology professor who owns two units in Collins Crossing, said she spoke to resident Sebastian Sibrian after he received an eviction notice on his work truck.

Sibrian could not be reached for comment.

“He went right to management, and the person in management office took the eviction notice and put it in the shredder,” Blau said.

Blau said Sibrian was told the truck was an eyesore on the overall beauty of the complex.

“That’s so intimidating if word gets out that you can’t have trucks used for work parked in the complex,” she said.

Blau said she was worried other residents would hear about the incident, which might further damage their relationship with management.

In November, Collins Crossing residents began protesting Aspen Square Management — the managing company for the complex — because of rising rents. Aspen Square Management could not be reached for comment.

The complex’s owners were also criticized for proposing a $5,406 special assessment on all units to pay for stair repairs after a 10-year-old boy fell through a staircase in November. All necessary repairs were completed this month.

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen has discussed taking over Collins Crossing to preserve it as affordable housing.

Alderman Sammy Slade said the entire board was emailed regarding the eviction notice.

“As far as I understand, it was one case, but I’d love to learn if it is more common than just that one case,” he said.

Mayor Mark Chilton said he also received an email about the issue, but was unsure of how many residents had been contacted with eviction notices.

“We’ve begun to look into the situation to understand what is going on over there,” he said.

Chilton said he hopes relations between management and residents improves.

“Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of what is actually happening and try to figure out a way to work with the owners,” Chilton said.

He said he has had some success in communicating with the owners about repair-related issues.

“It’s kind of been a mixed bag; they’ve shown that they are willing to listen to the concerns of the community,” he said. “They haven’t done everything we’ve asked but they have been somewhat responsive.”

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.