Riverstone Residential Group's Strategic Reorganization Underscores Client Service

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/10/09/riverstone-residential-groups-strategic-reorganization/

Isn't the term "reorganization" sometimes used in place of filing chapter…..?

Excerpts from the article -

"Located in metropolitan markets across the nation, properties include high-rise, mid-rise and garden-style communities."

They forgot to mention their properties also include slumlord, poorly managed, section 8 "communities" (see notorious landlords for list in progress - which reminds me I need to work on that). And, they forgot to mention their toxic properties - which includes Jefferson Lakes Apartments in baton Rouge, LA.

"Focused exclusively on the delivery of exceptional third-party management services, the company manages a portfolio of assets valued at more than $25 billion for leading institutions, pension funds, developers and other major owners."

"The company's portfolio of managed communities also increased significantly, the result of strong client-focused practices and the strategic acquisition of regional management companies."

Exceptional - Yes, the management services are "exceptional" in that the focus is not on the residents who are paying for services but on "clients making as much profit as possible". Exceptional does not even describe some of the management tactics Riverstone Residential is becoming increasingly known for. Some of these could be described as bold, aggressive, old school, threatening, pushing the enevelope, and breaking laws.

"We are known for our strong partnering approach," said Terry Danner. "The new client services group underscores our commitment to optimize our strategies and services on their behalf."

Part of their strong partnering approach might include - partnering with the judicial system to optimize a best possible outcome for themselves and their clients. For example, when they are defendants in a lawsuit - and remember - "Everyday is a lawsuit waiting to happen" a statement by Terry Danner in another story - they have been known to go out on a limb and "influence using various strategies" it into disappearing.

It is obvious who their commitment is to - so this little bit of "news" must be a sad cry for some good press. katy

Article - http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/riverstone-residential-groups-strategic-reorganization/story.aspx?guid=%7B595641CF-95A0-4A11-88E5-1A5980A097C5%7D&dist=hppr

Tenants complain| Apt. Damage | Mold | Baton Rouge, LA | WAFB News

By Keitha Nelson

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Since Hurricane Gustav, several tenants at Myrtle Place Apartments off Sherwood Forest have found themselves living in homes where parts of the ceiling are caving in and mold lines the walls.

They now say enough is enough. Some are complaining about having headaches and feeling sick because of the mold in their apartments.

"Something needs to be done from the landlord. I'm tired. I'm tired of it. It's ridiculous." Candice Brown is not alone when it comes to her frustration over the situation. The complex took its toll from Gustav, evident by the tarps covering many of the roofs. Brown says the blue tarp over her roof was put up there by a neighbor, not her landlord.

Inside Brown's apartment, there are signs that the damage was not confined to the outside. In what was her daughter's room, the ceiling caved in and has left piles of insulation and ceiling tiles, along with dust and mold. "It's upsetting because you work so hard for everything you have and then to come home and see everything your daughters have and you've worked for is completely destroyed, she says. "We now have rats and mice in there with us. We're getting sick constantly from the mold and the smell and just everything from that room."

Brown and her neighbors say the management is dragging its feet. They're furious about having to live like this and hopeful things will soon change.

Owner Eddie Zayde says he plans to get everything fixed next week. Tenants say they'll believe it when they see it.

Katy's Comment

I do not know enough about this complex or story to comment on the accuracy. However, there is a factually documented continuing public health issue at another apartment complex in Baton Rouge. A large national property management company can suppress this information along with the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency who purchased this complex to "provide safe affordable housing" even after knowing mold testing was conducted for the SALE that backed up not only what my report had but that mold is also in many more apartments!

This is not a little mold. It is in the HVAC systems and walls, it was eating the back of our refrigerator. It covered our air vents in 2 months. There is years worth of mold growth all over the complex yet they still deny it even with pictures and experts and actual testing. I can't help but link this to when these buildings sat in the elements for a year or more just framed up but unfinished.

I have maintenance records showing years of repeated leaks and sloppy repair work. Management tells those who complain that this is dust and then they have the ducts cleaned. I have records showing an extreme amount of air duct and dryer vent cleaning. If the mold did not keep growing and sporulating fed by the moisture and water leaks they would have the cleanest vents ever.

I know that from my own experience that if certain people or companies or political figures are involved they will just continue to ignore it and so will the news. These documents have been published and almost every day I find more cover up, fraud, etc. I will post this and see if the NEWS can actually INVESTIGATE a PUBLIC HEALTH issue that is documented with REAL EVIDENCE that people are allowed to move in to highly toxic apartments and the state KNOWS along with many others but it is ignored because of those who are involved in it. We will see if the NEWS is above the INFLUENCE of these people and if no story appears even with public documents to back up my comment here, then we will know.

Story - http://www.wafb.com/global/story.asp?s=9103878

Also posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/10/05/tenants-complain-apt-damage-mold-baton-rouge-la-wafb-news/

Riverstone Residential | CEO Christy Freeland | Multi-Housing World | Video

Riverstone's CEOs are still very pleased with their green initiatives such as their styrofoam cups etc. That's really good to know.

This CEO is asked about damage to their properties from the hurricanes. She replies that Riverstone has many properties in Texas and Louisiana that were damaged such as trees falling and roof damage. They are very busy repairing these.

She says they were very fortunante that there were no deaths. That means deaths related to these hurricanes. What about all the people in at least one complex I can say for sure that are being poisoned by the extreme amounts of toxic molds? Many may certainly die of illnesses related to the toxins from these molds.

Beware the repair work on their properties with water damage. They ignore and deny mold infestations even when they are visible and right in front of their face. They ignore along with their partners in crime - the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency - published mold reports.

And then, this CEO asks for donations for their associates. They should have enough money to do their cheap repairs from all the money they have saved from previous cheap repairs.

Video - http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1805377036

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/09/20/riverstone-residential-ceo-christy-freeland-multi-housing-world-video/

Toxic Mold Litigation | Riverstone Residential

These are the gloves I used to pick up and pack things to move out of the toxic apartment at Jefferson Lakes. I was not picking up anything that would have a black residue and I was not trying to rub any off - in fact I did not even want to touch anything with the gloves ON. But since I was inhaling it in large quantities anyway it does not really matter.

This is the mold that had covered everything we had in the apartment after just 4 months. This is not dust. This is on everything after wiping off any dust. It grows on metals and even gets in jewelry and it starts consuming items made of wood, paper etc. People too. This is the sticky mold that was on the coat hangers in the closets even though air vents are not in the closets. This is the black residue that would wash out of our hair in the shower (yes - you could see the black residue in the water).

This is the black mold the baby was breathing, touching, and eating and drinking since it was on his baby bottles and the toys he put in his mouth.

This is the mold that is still in us.

This is an exreme amount of mold and Riverstone Residential knew about this in 2005 and again in 2007 mold reports along with the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

They continue to lease these apartments.

Our litigation against them for poisoning us (how could they do that to a baby and still be allowed to poison more) is very obviously being manipulated by these unethical, greedy people and others - the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency which knows about the toxins in the apartments along with Riverstone Residential and the State of Louisiana and the judicial system there that allows and ignores this. They must either have some business and investments connecting them or they are just spineless, souless cowards and puppets. Probably business and investment partners.

What allowing this to continue says is that no matter how much evidence or harm - victims of these people (who think they are MORE important and who can pay for that importance) - have no rights. Allowing this to continue says that the money made leasing these toxic apartments is more important than we are and the others who lived there before, live there now, and will live there.

That is what this all comes down to if it continues to be ignored.

Understanding this has almost become more horrible, devastating, and stressful than being exposed to all the toxins we have in us.

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/10/04/toxic-mold-litigation-riverstone-residential/

How Litigation against Riverstone gets Dismissed | Court Transcript | 19th Judicial District Court | Judge Timothy E. Kelly | Baton Rouge, LA

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/10/04/how-litigation-against-riverstone-residential-gets-dismissed-court-transcript/

I just read a transcript of what was said in court when a motion for summary judgement was granted to Riverstone Residential. I am so shocked right now that I will have to let this sink in and add it to all the other obvious proof that Riverstone is allowed to get away with documented criminal acts, lies, altered records, etc. The records subpoenaed for the plaintiffs were for the wrong years, look suspicious and an affidavit is to the wrong company. Also leaving out some records when subpoenaed is against the law.

As far as the judge and the transcript - I bet he would not want a judge deciding important issues about his own family the way he did for us. He either does not have any understanding of this issue and should have educated himself so he could make intelligent statements (because this transcript shows only stupidity) or could it be his decision is influenced by money and politics - his wife is the Commissioner of Administration and is on the Louisiana State Bond Commission that in 2007 - and even with a mold report done for the whole Jefferson Lakes Apartments Complex showing high levels of molds in the HVAC system, etc. - approved the purchase and so called "renovations" of this complex by the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency who now (along with Riverstone) continue leasing these known highly toxic apartments to unsuspecting victims. These criminals are above the law too.

According to this transcript - the very reason this "judge" granted the motion for summary judgement now becomes proof that Riverstone Residential has knowledge these apartments contain toxins and that by leasing these apartments to people they are exposing them to known toxins that can cause illness and death. They knew this in 2005 and the evidence (if complete, correct, and not altered) is overwhelming.

Let me mention we were never shown the apartment we moved into - we were shown another one with the same floor plan. Most have mold that they hide easily for a while until the mold growth is out of control and they have to vacume the "dust" out of the ducts.

I will post the complete transcript. Be very concerned about your rights or rather your lack of rights and who is making decisions concerning those rights.

How Riverstone Residential gets Litigation Dismissed | False Documents

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog/2008/09/18/how-riverstone-residential-gets-litigation-dismissed-false-documents/

This work order was made to fit the dates that Riverstone Residential prefers. Even if this leak had been repaired on the date they show it would have been a week and a half later than when they were first notified. They should have at least made one to show the repair work done on the date reported! Just a suggestion for future litigation.

We notified them of the leak "raining" down into the living room from the upstairs bath on April 6th. On April 20th I called the office because they still had not come to repair it. A few hours later when they still had not come we contacted them again. The head maintenance man then came to the apartment along with another maintenance employee who mentioned this is where a previous leak had been and we now know from maintenance records there have been leaks for years. Mr. Oby (the head of maintenance) asked if we had a document stating they had been to our apartment on April 15th. We had no such document because no one came that day and even if they had what was the point because there was no repair work. They cut a hole in the ceiling and the smell from mold was horrible. My daughter left with the baby the next morning when they came back to finish and I stayed in the other bedroom having become suddenly ill.

This leak was not the cause of a little mold growth in that apartment. It had been growing for years. This just confirmed the extensive mold problem along with the smells we noticed before and the mold growth that had started covering the vents. Yet a motion for summary judgment was granted and I was told by my attorney that the attorney for Riverstone told the judge (who according to our attorney said he did not even read everything we submitted to him) that one could leave a wet wash cloth on the floor and mold would start to grow. Whatever.

We have a witness this work was done on April 20th & 21st.

Depositions from Mr. Oby and Connie Cambell the manager show they can't get their dates straight.

More to come.

2007 Mold Inspection Report | Jefferson Lakes Apt. | Ignored by Owners | Riverstone Residential | Louisiana Housing Finance Agency

Request for Mold Inspection Letter

This is one part of the report. These pages show apartments that were visually inspected for mold and the results. 49 out of just the 76 that were actually inspected show VISUAL MOLD in the HVAC system!

Riverstone Residential, after knowing of my 2005 report documenting MOLD denies that they know of mold. And they continue to say there are no reports of mold.

I called the The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency last year and told them of my 2005 IAQ | Microbial | Fungal Report. I did not know this 2007 report was in existence. The person I spoke with said they would certainly be concerned about a problem like this. He wanted me to send a copy of my report but I believe they are supposed to investigate reports or complaints without a very expensive professional report which most people making a complaint would not have. I find it hard to believe that this 2007 report was not known since all were involved in a transaction with this complex.

Pages - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23021578@N03/sets/72157605890888165/

2007 Mold Inspection Report | More Pages | Jefferson Lakes | Ignored by Owners | Riverstone | Louisiana Housing Finance Agency

This test was conducted in order to facilitate the identification of possible biological agents present on interior surfaces at Jefferson Lakes Apartments 12400 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA. 70816.

These pages from the report contain the type of testing that was done in 6 apartments in the Phase 3 buildings along with the results and recommendations.

The results show HIGH levels (in 3 of the 6 and low to medium in 1) of apparent microbial growth which is not consistent with naturally occurring conditions.

Again, as in the 49 units of the 76 inspected in Phase 1 & 2 that have mold in the HVAC system these do too. Also included are the recommendations of the visual inspection of apartments in phase 1 & 2 buildings that were posted earlier.

Riverstone Residential, after knowing of my 2005 report documenting MOLD continues to deny they know of mold and continues to say no one reports mold!

I called the The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency last year and told them of my 2005 IAQ | Microbial | Fungal Report. I did not know this 2007 report was in existence. The person I spoke with said they would certainly be concerned about a problem like this. He wanted me to send a copy of my report but I believe they are supposed to investigate reports or complaints without a very expensive professional report which most people making a complaint would not have. I find it hard to believe that this 2007 report was not known since all were involved in a transaction with this complex.

People are living there now. They still allow people to move in even with documented evidence of the TOXIC ENVIRONMENT. This includes INFANTS and CHILDREN. This is a Public Health Issue.

Photos of extensive mold in apt. 2907 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23021578@N03/sets/72157605542240095/

Day 1 | National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog

September 5 to October 5, 2008

What is the purpose of National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month?

The purpose of National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month is to inform, educate, and raise awareness about the adverse health effects due to exposure of indoor molds and mycotoxins.

What are molds?

Molds are a common name for fungi. Molds are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic matter and mold spores to reproduce. These organisms are part of the fungi kingdom, a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast, and mildews. In nature, molds play a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Molds need moisture to grow.

What are mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are toxic vapors produced by mold spores when they sporulate, or grow, and have serious health effects on humans and animals. Mycotoxins are so poisonous that they have been used as a biological war weapon. Stachybotrys chartarum is the most studied and well-known toxic mold. It is known to produce trichothecene mycotoxins. Aspergillus produces aflatoxin mycotoxins. Aflatoxins are among the most carcinogenic substances known.

How do you get sick from mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the skin, and can result in a multitude of symptoms including but not limited to: dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise and fever.

How can exposure to indoor mold and mycotoxins affect my health?

Mycotoxin exposure can lead to toxic injury that may include multiple illnesses, affecting the skin and the nervous, vascular, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, urinary, and immune systems; including the formation of cancers and can be life-threatening.

Can mold grow inside the human body?

Yes. Certain species of molds referred to as "body temperature molds" can live and grow inside the human body, causing recurring infections and numerous other health problems as well as death.

Should I use bleach to clean mold?

No. Bleach combined with certain mycotoxins and VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), can create neurotoxins and brain tumors. OSHA does not recommend using bleach in mold remediation. Ammonia dissolves some molds and neutralizes the mycotoxins. It is important to follow safety guidelines when using cleaners to remove molds. Consult the EPA website for proper personal safety equipment when removing mold. If mold growth is over 10 square feet, the recommendation is to contact a professional who is experienced in cleaning up mold; either a reputable, certified industrial hygienist (CIH) or a qualified mold remediation company.

Are there any events in my area during National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month that I can attend to learn more about indoor molds and exposure to mycotoxins?

To find out if there are any events scheduled in your area, check the following websites for the latest updates:

http://www.nationalindoormoldsociety.org

http://www.moldmadness.com

http://www.myspace.com/faceoftoxicmold

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this flyer/fact sheet is to inform, not treat or offer legal counsel to the public about mold/mycotoxin health related issues. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician, nor is it intended to serve as legal counsel. Please consult your own doctor or other qualified health professional regarding the treatment of your medical problem and consult your attorney for legal counsel.

Documented Facts | Truth | Riverstone Residential | Louisiana Housing Finance Agency

Posted on - http://twusea.org/blog

It appears there are some who do not want the public to know and see the documented facts about a public health issue that continues to be blatantly ignored concerning Jefferson Lakes Apartments in Baton Rouge, La. and managed by Riverstone Residential.

Documented mold inspection reports were ignored by the owners, Riverstone, and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency when all were involved in a transaction concerning this complex.

These unethical and unconscionable people leased an apartment to us (myself, my daughter, and her one year old baby) that was filled with years of toxin producing molds.

Even with our report in 2005 and the report in 2007, people are still allowed to move into their toxic apartments and it seems they have no plans to change that - even after the reports have been exposed online.

Our rights to pursue litigation have been manipulated rather obviously and those documents are just starting to come online.

Apparently, this is interfering with THEIR PLAN to ignore all this so someone is reporting my blog and interfering with MY PLAN to show up in search engines so more people can be informed about horrible situations like this.

These people have a conscious disregard for peoples health and laws. How dare they be allowed to do this to us and to others and have it all be ignored.

I can get around the blogging interference and I have many more documents to post.

Sometimes the truth is unpleasant. This whole experience has been "unpleasant" for us and grows more so everyday.

Coming soon - the "unpleasant" medical results.