Parkdale tenants put new landlord on notice

Today our neighbours at 109 Jameson traveled to the Markham offices of property manager Briarlane to demand they improve conditions at their building. A Briarlane executive tried to undermine the group by insisting that he would only speak to one tenant in private. Our neighbours responded that he would have to meet with the whole group. After conceding to meeting with the group and accepting 50 demand letters from tenants living at the building. He then committed to addressing tenants’ issues immediately. Our neighbours intend to hold Briarlane to it.

In March, the midrise building at 109 Jameson was sold to Shafik Kassam, a landlord who owns other buildings in Parkdale and is known to Parkdale tenants. Like at his other Parkdale buildings, Kassam hired Briarlane as the property manager. Since they took over conditions at the building have become significantly worse. Basic cleaning and maintenance of common areas has not been kept up and tenants’ requests for repairs in their units have been ignored. 

To oppose the neglect of the new landlord, the building committee at 109 Jameson has been holding meetings and reaching out to their neighbours door to door. Today’s action was the culmination of many hours of work by working-class people in Parkdale who have committed to collectively defending and improving the conditions of their homes and neighbourhood.

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