Rally held outside Springfield housing court during appeal of 150% rent increase at mobile home park

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Residents of the West Street Village Mobile Home Community in Ludlow gathered in front of the Housing Court in Springfield on Wednesday to garner support in their appeal of lot fee increases at their park.

The rally came after the community’s new owner proposed raising monthly rent from $207 to $503, a 150 percent increase that makes the community unaffordable for many residents. Residents told 22News that despite their rent increase, the new owner has only made cosmetic updates and used these fixes to justify the lot fee increase to the Ludlow Rent Control Board.

“If he focused more on the quality of life instead of cosmetics, and really cared about the people, he wouldn’t be putting us through this,” said West Village Tenant Association Vice President Debee Boulanger.

State Senator Jake Oliveira and State Representative Aaron Saunders joined in support of the residents. 22News attempted to contact the property owner for comment but has not yet heard back.

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