Getting better, one step at a time

It seems the situation at 244 and 250 Pleasant Street, properties featured in our Oct. 8 cover story, “Joanna’s Story,” is finally getting better. Shortly after we ran an article that profiled tenant Joanna Dejesus, the mortgage company that holds the buildings decided to step up and manage the properties.

Yesterday, during a housing court hearing, Bayview Loan Servicing agreed that it would start major repairs on the buildings by Oct. 29, finishing work no later than Dec. 29, according to Steve Patton, Executive Director of Worcester Common Ground.

Two weeks ago, the mortgage company made some emergency repairs to the properties, primarily focusing on the apartment of our featured tenant, says Kevin Ksen of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center.

In addition to much needed repairs, Bayview will also attempt to fix the other issue that surrounds 244 and 250 Pleasant Street: rent. Since landlord Rene Reyes proclaimed the properties foreclosed five months ago despite that a complaint was never filed with the Registry of Deeds, tenants have lived in 244 and 250 Pleasant Street free-of-charge. Bayview Loan Servicing will begin collecting rent Nov. 1.

While it’s getting better, the situation doesn’t seem over. A status hearing regarding the properties is scheduled for Oct. 29, and there’s still a possibility that Worcester Common Ground will manage the properties through a receivership if Bayview doesn’t follow through. Only time, and a string of housing court hearings, can tell.

-Owen Skoler

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