Number of Silver Oaks Residents Still Looking for a Home Unknown

With less than a month before the move out date, the exact number of residents looking for a home is unknown.

In August, of Silver Oaks Place were still searching for a new home after being notified of eviction in July. That number has changed to less than 20, according to Alton Irwin, spokesperson for Capstone Development Corporation. Residents are asked to be out by Oct. 1.

Capstone, , plans to buy the complex from owner Tell Real Estate Trust before year's end. It will be targeted at students of neighboring .

Irwin said he misspoke before we ran the Aug. 31 article about lease extensions and said he wasn't aware the number was less. Capstone is still offering a lease extension to those residents who haven't found a home, but Patch has not been able to confirm whether there are still 40 people or 20 people looking for a new home.

Arlyne Habeeb, spokeswoman for the Portage County Community Action Council, said 40 to 50 Silver Oaks residents still attend meetings about relocating, but she hadn't heard that the number had fallen.

Councilman-at-large Robin Turner, who has been attentive to the situation since July, also could not confirm how many people were still looking.

"As best I know, it's a moving target," Turner said. "You've got people leaving and it's pretty imprecise. I'm estimating that there is between 30 to 40 people still at the property."

Silver Oaks resident Mary Maske said a meeting about the eviction is held each week, and roughly 35 to 40 people attend those meetings, but some are family members of residents and others are people who already moved but are still committed to the issue.

"I don't think there are a lot of people left, but I don't know," Maske said. "The people who used to live here are committed to the community. This is their community even after they've left."

Capstone was at the complex last week to offer any residents still looking for home a lease extension, but Maske didn't take one because she is still actively looking for a home. However, the fact that she needs a wheelchair more than 50 percent of the time makes it hard.

"I'm a polio survivor, and when I found out about this, I started searching hard, but then my body just gave out on me and I had to stop," she said. "Capstone isn't helping me look for somewhere to live."

Major Ragain's mother was a resident in the complex but has since moved. He still attends the weekly meetings, but he doesn't know how many residents are left.

"My mother has moved out," he said. "She's 91 and just couldn't take the emotional turmoil and uncertainty. She wanted to stay and would come back should this issue resolve itself in favor of the residents."