THE RIVERS EDGE PROJECT IS A JOKE FOR ARTISTS: Long Read But Very Interesting

My experience applying for "starving artist" 

My experience has been a complete nightmare and run around to only be a waste of time as a starving artist trying to get an apartment at this complex.

1st experience: I went to see the apartments as soon as I was given the news article from May 15th by Jeromy Cox in the Daily Times and was greeted with a very young women that was just rude and mean. She had said some pretty nasty things to me a couple of times after asking some questions. Clearly she didn't want to talk to me. So I went over to a couple of ladies that were interested artist and went on the tour and asked her questions. She told me that the apartments were nice but very small and that they will not tell you anything and its like its all a big secret. We were standing at the three boards with the layouts to the complex. Next to the layouts was a door to the outside patio so I went out the door to look at the complex from there and this young girl comes out the door and says to me " you have to leave right now" . With a very shocked face I looked at her and asked "oh my what is wrong did I do something wrong? She says " this is private property and you are not allowed to be here on the grounds and you have to leave right now " . I then came in the door and apologized if I had done anything wrong and there were no signs on the doors to state otherwise so I'm sorry. she says again " you have to leave" with that I had had enough of her rude self. My daughter was with me and she left because she just knew I was really upset how she was talking to me. My daughter is a very professional calm and collected person and she had to leave because this girl was just sooooooo nasty. At that time I said to the girl " why are you talking to me like this? I have done nothing wrong and you have talked to me like a dog since I came in the door? Her reply was "my feet are killing me and I'm tired and it's been a busy day". Really!!!!!!!!!! Spoke to the manager but did ask her not to say anything because maybe she is having a bad day but management needs to police her associates. We are coming here as potential tenants and this girl is very rude.

2nd experience: went in for the tour (which by the way is on second floor) apartment. I told Mr. Ward that I was terrified of steps but he was very nice and helped me. While on tour I noticed a young black gentleman with his little boy pulling a cooler across the grounds. Lady with our tour noticed him and ask him as he was entering a 1st floor apt. "do you live here"? "yes, I live with my grandmother". Light bulb went off in my mind! Then as we went around the grounds I noticed another very young black gentleman going down stairs with his baby on his hips. I continue with tour and then I got the application packet and went on my way. Excited that I as and artist will have a new place to live and share with other "starving artists".

3rd experience: filled out the application and completed all compliance's for "artist" and went in by appointment because you had to have one and your drivers license were held every time you walked into the door ( why?). I noticed that on the wall in the office was a sign $30 application fee due at time of receiving application. No checks, no credit cards, no debit cards or cash excepted. Must be money order or certified check. My first question was why and said " if someone gives you a bad check that would be a clue not to rent to them". Their response "that is our policy". So I had to leave and go to the bank and get a $30 certified check (which by the way all application fees are free now) just saying. As I talked to Mr. Ward I explained without a doubt that I need first floor 2 bedroom for two reasons. 1st: terrified of steps because I fall all the time on them and I have had two back surgeries and I need extra room for my art studio. So I was put on for a 1st floor apartment. Ward told me once all background check is done and you pass you will be called in for interview for the unit you applied for when available. Great left excited!!! Meanwhile going into the 2nd week waiting for my call, my phone breaks. So I went on Friday July 10th to check to see if they had called. Mr. Ward says "yes I did call. We need to set up your interview". With that I looked straight at him and asked "this is for the 2 bedroom 1st floor apartment right"? Mr. Ward said "yes we pull the applications by availability for units applied for and whom is next in line" Which was me. Great, I'm so excited again. Meanwhile an elderly lady comes in the door with her apartment keys in hand. She says to one of the associates " I have my keys but I don't remember what apartment is mine can you help me"? This I won't forget.... Associate says: I don't have access to that information and no one here can get that information for you". OK first of all this woman clearly has memory issues and was not able to remember who she was let alone where she lived. Whatever. Don't know what happened after that or if she ever found her apartment but was wondering what her artistic abilities were. I left but there were lots of very young black applicants in there every single time I went. No artist (well as far as really true artists anyway) and no white people. Only saw 4 Caucasians in 6 visits there. So I go home and get all info they request for "starving artists applicants" spent lots of time making sure I had everything they requested as well as spending $30 just for the photos for the portfolio.

4th experience: Wednesday July 15th 2015. Now keep in mind I was there that previous Friday and they are closed Saturday Sunday and Tuesday. Now this is Wednesday three working days later for them. My interview was with Mr. Darryl Stevenson. (young black gay gentleman). He greets me nicely but late. OK. We sit and he asked me something not sure exactly but I replied with "now this is for the 1st floor 2 bedroom correct? His reply as he just flipped me off was "oh no we don't have anymore of them but this is for a 2nd floor 2 bedroom.. I said to him, wait I was told Friday that I'm being interviewed for the apartment on the 1st floor because I am scared of stairs and fall on them all the time and I have had several back surgery's and that this was what I was told I was coming to interview for, and he said " well they are gone so if this is going to deter you from living here then we can end the interview if you want". Of course I am in shock at the way he was replying to me and felt like I was put on the spot so I said to him "OK but can I be put on a waiting list for the first 1st floor apt when available and at least give me riverfront. Mr. Stevenson replies "oh of course". So the interview continued. He says that my social security card is invalid because I laminated it (I had no clue), so that went on his list of what he wanted before he could proceed with processing my application. I hand him 6 months of my latest bank statements with that he says "I want the next months statement and I said, um it doesn't exist yet. It is only July 15th and statements don't come out till after July 21st.. Well that is what I want! Of course I'm confused first by his attitude and then how they ask for something that is in the future and doesn't exist.. So that went on his list. Then he hands me a legal pad and says to me "I want you to write the Date, Amount and Explanation for every single deposit you have on all these bank statements" I was like What?????? Anyway I said well don't you think that is an invasion of privacy? He said " well if you want to live here I want to know where your money is coming from".. I mean just like that.... good lord this is getting crazy I'm thinking to myself.. I told him that there is no way I can remember what happened up to 6 months ago.. Well you will have to guess to the best of your memory he said. Of course I am just guessing cause I have no clue.. so I just put anything down to the best of my ability of guessing....lol .. So we then move on to the portfolio I needed to turn in to show my artwork... I went through a good amount of money for a starving artist to put this together, got my three letters from professional artist and teachers and my resume'. He takes the portfolio and retrieves only two photos of a couple booths from shows that we need to have if we did shows. Clearly it shows nothing of my artwork only the booth.. I asked him to please take the whole thing because that is what they asked for in the application for "starving artist" (what a Joke) and he flat out refused... He said he doesn't need it. I'm like "well how will they see my artwork and what I do if you don't take the photos.. this is all I need says Mr. Stevenson.. I knew in my gut that this is just not right. Something is stinking and it isn't me...So he hands me the list and says " I need these three things before the end of 2 weeks or your application is voided".. I said "what?". You are asking me for government documents (2 of the request on list) and I only have two weeks? Yeah!!!!!! You will get them in time I'm sure he says.. OK.... so I leave and go straight to the Social Security Building.. they closed at 12 noon on that day.. So I go back the next day.. I don't understand, if the Social Security office can take my drivers license as complete identification for a ss card, why does this leasing company not take it as proof of who I am? I mean they had my passport, my drivers license and my ss card (laminated) and all my bank statements with my name all my monthly bills and copies of 6 months of the latest checks to my landlord as proof I'm never late on my rent ever, but none of this was good enough to process my application for this guy... (light bulb).... I go home soooo upset from this experience and felt like I have been violated and humiliated and just pure deflated.. So I did my homework. I mean come on.. I'm trying to get an apartment not get into the Pentagon or White House.. I mean what the heck.. anyway so I do some homework so I'm ready for the next encounter.. Low and behold it states in their booklet with the application: you are pulled for the interview once the unit you applied for is available and process can take up to 30 days to process... Now I know you are all smart people so what does that say to you? I'm coming in for the apartment that Mr. Ward told me I was being interviewed for.. Moving on.. I look at the rules for social security card.. states: if you bring in the application from the Social Security Administration that you have applied for new card that is excepted.

5th experience: When I returned on that Friday with this ridiculous request he was asking for... I was not taken into the office but in a room with several new people filling out applications and I thought that was so unprofessional and that was putting my info out for the whole room to see and hear.. What happen to privacy. He takes his time to come see me because he knows at this time I am asking to see the manager because of the way he made me feel in the interview.. When he comes out finally... I hand him all the things he requested... IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH according to Mr. Stevenson. I want the card. My reply " but it says right here look, you will take this form from social security administration so we can process my application... WELL I WANT THE CARD per Mr. Stevenson. At this point I want to talk to the manager for a few reasons... His attitude his demands and just plan explanation on what is really happening here...Stevenson "she is in a lease signing and that takes two hrs. moving on.. I gave him the bank info up to the day before because I couldn't give him days that had not come yet as he was requesting.. Once again I guessed at the deposits because I gave him all 7 months now.. told him that this is not right because you are not taking into consideration what I spend on supplies or refunds or loan paybacks and refund checks.. He said: well we don't care what you spend your money on we just want to know where you are getting it.. I am just so upset with this kid but I am doing what he ask because I want to move in town with other artists. I make appointment to speak to the manager the following Monday at 1pm... remember interview was Wednesday and brought his request in Friday and now we are into Monday meeting with manager.. this gets soooooo good. Meanwhile I had called the Mayors office an asked to speak to him. This was Thursday week before and I called Mr. Jeromy Cox at "the daily times" to ask about the article he wrote on May 15th 2015. I was definitely feeling this was all smoke and mirrors. Nothing showed me that they give a crap about the "artists" and that the artist have first priority per their pamphlets and the article in the paper.. You know when your gut tells you something isn't right most of the time it is right. I received no call to this date from the Mayor himself.. Just the office staff.

6th experience.. Now keep in mind every time I have been there since second week of June I've seen three white people, one was a artist that was so discouraged and witnessed the associate being rude to me, an old women who had no idea where she was or where her apartment was with her nurse which none of the staff could give her the apartment number either, and one more artist trying to get in. All application were free now. No one had to pay $30 for application fees.. and it was full of black people trying to get applications.... yeah.. my thought too.. So I was early and told the gentleman (not Mr. Stevenson) that I had appointment with the manager (Teresa Fernandez) at 1 o'clock and when she was ready I was here.. With that they rushed out all the people there, closed the door, locked it, put up the closed sign and came in the big room where I was and closed that door and turned out the lights...(ummmmmmm). Manager Teresa walks over to the table where I was sitting and looks at me and says " have you retained a lawyer?".. I looked up at her and said " what?".. She then says that I told Mr. Stevenson (which was pissed because I wanted to see the manager about my interview) I had a lawyer.. I said, Well he is a liar.. I never ever told that man that and I am very upset that he would do something so unprofessional. With that she and her witness (associate) sat down and I proceeded telling her about my interview and the things he wanted which I brought Friday and he still didn't want to process my application. I showed her their pamphlet and all the big bold words of their rules and she just kept saying we need the ss card.. whatever.. So I told her about giving my unit on first floor away since the previous Friday and what he said to me about it and then we decided I would take the second floor temporarily till the first floor became available.. With that she said.. We don't have any 2nd floor apartments only on the 3rd and 4th.. I was floored.. OK wait, You gave away the first floor on me and then I agreed to take 2nd floor and from Friday to today (Monday) that you gave away also? She said we are a leasing company and it is first come first serve. Um that is not what the news article says with the Mayor beating his chest about this is for the starving artists and they have first priority... and that is not what your brochures say. I showed her the pamphlet again so she could see in their words "artist have first priority". Her reply: we are a leasing company and we didn't have any artist that applied so it is first come first serve.. These are the words coming from her (managers) mouth.. I asked her if the mayor has any idea what is happening here? she said.. he is well aware of what is going on here.. In those words to me... How in the heck can you fight this.. I mean I am getting so discouraged because I was told and all the advertisement is all about the "starving artist".. So with that I told her there is no way I can do a 3rd floor or 4th floor and why isn't there an elevator here? I told her as an artist that I tried to get Mr. Stevenson to take some of my photos of my art and he wouldn't and if an art committee is deciding if you are an artist they need to see what I do as an artist and he wouldn't take any photos.. she said well if it will make you feel better I will take a couple photos for your file. I said yes it would.. So with that we went to the office and I took out the pages with my photos and with that she did a 180 turn around... Her words.....OH MY GOD.... OH MY GOD... THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL... OH MY GOD... I AM SO SORRY ABOUT ALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH AND YOU ARE APPROVED AND I KNOW I HAVE NO RIGHT TO ASK THIS OF YOU BUT WILL YOU COME AND DO SOME WORKSHOPS FOR US? My reaction is "What?'.. I said this is what I have been trying to give your company for weeks.. all the way from the very first meeting with my application in June... Her: I AM SO SORRY... WE ARE ALSO HAVING AN ART BAZAAR IN NOVEMBER AND I AM GIVING YOU YOUR BOOTH. EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO PAY FOR THEIRS AND I AM GIVING YOU YOUR TABLES SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING THEM EITHER.. As you can imagine I am floored by this. So I said, that is why I wanted to come here to begin with, so I can be with other artist and learn and teach others but your leasing company (Habitat America) has make this a nightmare for artist as it seems... So with that I left and the Mayors secretary called me that next day and asked if I received a call from the main office of the leasing company? I said no I've heard nothing from anyone.. Told her about the meeting with management the day before and with that she said she is calling them again.. Few hours later a Frank regional manager of Habitat America calls me and I told him about the meetings and interview etc etc.. he says "well we have 50 artist in there". I said well according to Mrs. Fernandez you have none because no artist applied.. I said well you will have to prove that to me... with that he says to me.. " I don't have to prove anything to you"... then he says I'm calling Teresa Fernandez right now and getting some info and I'll call you right back.. I have heard nothing from him since.... yeah I told him about talking to the Mayors office and talking to Mr. Cox at "the daily times". I told the manager of the complex I had spoken to the Mayors office. Needless to say since my first conversation with Jeremy Cox his demeanor has done a 180 also.. He is not excited about the conversations we had about Rivers Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts the day after my interview. He says in our initial conversation that "I have been waiting for this exact phone call just waiting for someone like you to call to confirm my suspensions". Well he said he was going to do some investigating and get back to me.. So a few weeks later and several messages left on his work phone... nothing.. makes you wonder.

7th experience: I got my new ss card so I took it into the office and Teresa was there. I gave it to her and she said "when you get approved then you will be the first one on the waiting list for the 1st floor 2 bedroom apartment when it come available but I will need to come in every 60 to 90 days to update my application". uggggg really it just keeps going doesn't it... anyway at that point I asked her about the conversation we had about workshops.. She said when she gets them going she will let me know.. I am confused, if there is 50 artist there according to Regional Manager then why has it been almost a year since the first leasing in September 2014 that no workshops have happened. Is it because there are none.. Why does she need me to come do them is my question? Don't get me wrong.. I do want to do them but where are all the artist that are already tenants. Don't they have to do any? You have to sign a document stating you will do workshops to get an apartment as an artists and a year later none have been done... Yeah makes me wonder on that too...

I told Frank and Teresa about talking to the Mayors office and talking to Mr. Cox at " the daily times". I told the manager of the complex I had spoken to the Mayors office. Big Mistake. Needless to say since my first conversation with Jeremy Cox his demeanor has done a 180 also.. He is not excited about the conversations we had about Rivers Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts the day after my interview. He says in our initial conversation that "I have been waiting for this exact phone call from someone like you to call to confirm my suspensions". Well he said he was going to do some investigating and get back to me.. So a few weeks later and several messages left on his work phone... nothing.. makes you wonder. Of course when I did get up with him he wasn't interested in the subject any longer. ummmmm yeah wonder what happen to his enthusiasm?

8th experience: Meanwhile I go by the complex Monday July 31st and guess what I see? Nine men moving a 700 to 800 lb woman into her new 1st floor 2 bedroom apartment.. You know the one they said they didn't have for me.. Yeah... also she said she was only paying $208 per month.. Of course I am like.. wait a minute, there is no where that has that price for any apartments. It clearly states "THIS IS NOT A SECTION 8 OR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. Well she has to be subsidized because no apartments are advertised for that price.. Of course you can't prove anything because its my word against theirs again... So I called the Mayors office again and spoke to the secretary that I have been talking to because the Mayor will not call me himself as I clearly ask his secretary to have him do.. He is avoiding it personally. He doesn't want to explain what is clearly going on over there. So I have to deal with the secretary...So the Mayor won't take to me and now Jeremy Cox doesn't want to talk about it anymore and Frank hasn't called me back and I called yesterday (August 5th 2015) to River's Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts..(.makes me want to laugh any way just their title) to get an update on my application, no answer so left message early in the day.... nothing...

I am sooooo tired of the way Habitat America Leasing Company has handled the rentals. I can't take it anymore.. I want answers.. Is this for the "starving artist" or the severely handicap and ghetto housing.. Just let me know because that is all I have ever seen there as tenants and I will just move on because it is clearly not for the artist as they said...

I am sure there is more but I just get upset talking about the lies and misrepresentation this whole thing has been perceived as being.

I just hope that maybe I'm wrong, but all evidence seems to be otherwise and maybe just maybe I can make it easier for the next artist that wants to live there..

Publishers Notes: After researching this information I have learned two things today. One, Jeremy Cox no longer handles Salisbury matters. Two, I have confirmed there are allegedly SOME artists in the complex but certainly not 50. I have been assured that one Council Member is going to investigate this matter, (and rightfully so) but was also told the state manages, (abiding by the rules) this facility and not the City. The fox and the hen house comes to mind.

I can also say this is the 4th artist, (all female) that I have spoken to on this matter and all four have had massive issues. One even claimed that if you are a white, STRAIGHT female, you're not getting in.