DEWITT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLNS) — Individuals residing on the mostly-empty Kristana Cellular Dwelling Park say an organization, Capitol Cellular Dwelling, started tearing down vacant properties within the lot with no allow final Thursday.
Kristana Cellular Dwelling Park has not been licensed to function within the state of Michigan since 2023, and closed in April. The proprietor, Ara Darakjian, has requested the remaining residents to depart and even supplied incentives for them to go. Now, residents say demolition efforts have begun.
“They actually began ripping the aluminum cladding off the skin of the trailer,” stated Nathan Babcock, a resident of the park.
The proprietor of Capitol Cellular Dwelling, Mike Ranke, says that’s not what they’re doing.
“We did not tear any of the homes down or start any demo,” said Ranke. “We opened up one of the trailers to find to get samples of lead and asbestos testing, which then gets submitted with a demo permit.”
Nonetheless, residents 6 Information spoke with say in a different way.
“They tore stuff up on a trailer up by the roads. So, they’ve already began tearing stuff down,” stated resident Tina Riggs.
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“They’re doing it with no allow once they know they’re in violation of legal guidelines,” stated resident Jason Eldridge.
Ranke says the township was conscious of their testing processs.
“I used to be in communication with them, and so they knew that there was no demo-ing occurring. So, due to this fact, we didn’t want a allow,” stated Ranke.
Whereas Ranke claims they didn’t want a allow to get their samples, he admits his employees went a bit overboard.
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“My guys went a little bit farther than I said,” said Ranke. “They stop and desist. The township man gave me a name and stated, ‘Hey, I am gonna do that. , we gotta comply with legality ends.’ I stated, ‘Nope. I perceive.'”
Eldridge says one of many properties that was torn into is a well being hazard.
“It is riddled with black mould, and the people engaged on the house didn’t have any OSHA-approved safety tools for coping with such a factor,” stated Eldridge.
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Ranke stated there was no black mould within the house.
6 New has reached out to the proprietor of the park, Ara Darakjian, who replied through written assertion.
“When we acquired the Kristana community from receivership, it had been neglected for years to the point that redevelopment is the only sustainable option. Our contractor was inspecting abandoned trailers in preparation for an eventual demolition of the property, but that will not happen without obtaining the appropriate permits, and certainly not while there are still residents living here. It’s important that we ensure that the two remaining households find new homes before any work is started.”
Ara Darakjian, written assertion, Could 13, 2025.
