Residents in the Bookcliff Heights neighborhood of Grand Junction have expressed unease over the arrival of a new housing facility operated by the non-profit A Special Place. The home provides housing for individuals with mental health diagnoses, but some neighbors feel they were not adequately informed about its presence.
Community Calls for Transparency
Concerns among Bookcliff Heights residents stem largely from a perceived lack of communication. Victoria Patsantaras, a local resident, expressed frustration over not being notified about the new housing arrangement.
“If I had more information, I would feel better. I would be better prepared for an interaction because I would know a little bit more about boundaries that might need to be set with different behaviors,” she stated.
Some families in the neighborhood have even adjusted their routines, keeping their children indoors since the home’s establishment.
“They should not be in a situation where they are restrained and held back from riding their bikes, which they have been in the last three months,” said Patsantaras.
Kennedy Defends Legality and Purpose
City Council candidate Cody Kennedy, who has faced scrutiny over his connection to the property, insists the home is not a group home in the legal sense.
“There have been efforts to categorize this as a group home, and it’s just not,” Kennedy explained. “A Special Place provides housing for people with mental health diagnoses, and the house on Bookcliff is leased to them through a master lease. That means they can use it for any legal purpose, and I’m not clearing one person versus another to live in that house.”
Kennedy added that a 2024 state law removed restrictions on the number of unrelated individuals allowed to live together, making the arrangement legally sound.
“While they’re not related, they are living together, and that’s completely permissible. It’s a residential lease with a master lease in place to a nonprofit, and they can choose who they serve. In this case, they serve people with significant mental health diagnoses,” he said.
Balancing Community Concerns and Housing Needs
The situation in Bookcliff Heights highlights a broader conversation about community integration and housing for individuals with mental health challenges. While some residents worry about safety and the impact on their neighborhood, supporters argue that such facilities are essential for providing stable housing to vulnerable populations.
Kennedy, for his part, downplayed safety concerns. “I personally, knowing what I know, would live right next door to this house,” he said.
With tensions running high, local officials and community advocates may need to facilitate discussions between residents and the non-profit to address concerns while ensuring that housing rights remain protected.
