TULSA -- New owners of a senior living facility in south Tulsa are doubling the rent.
Residents at what is now Tapestry at Woodland Hills said they cannot afford the rate hike, but they do not want to leave.
The complex was purchased on Nov. 16 and will be managed by Cedarhurst Living.
According to a press release, the complex will convert to a full-service independent living community.
Residents said they pay around $1,400 a month in rent for a one bedroom. Now the rent will be more than $2,900.
The rent will increase for current residents after their leases are up.
The new rental rate will include three meals a day prepared by a chef, a 24-hour concierge, a gym, weekly housekeeping and utilities.
Many said they chose to live at Tapestry because they had more freedom. They do not want those amenities.
Residents said they intended to stay at Tapestry for the rest of their life, but now several now have plans to move out.
They said they found out about the rate hike last week in a meeting.
"It was a shock to a lot of us. Many people are single or widowed or whatever and they definitely cannot afford that kind of money," resident Evelyn Land said. "It's been a real challenge for us. We have all been having sleepless nights and determining what to do next."
The residents are very upset about being separated from the friends they made.
"We have a community here and I stood up in the meeting and said, 'You can take the Tapestry away from us, but you can't take our friendships away,'" resident Dorothy Blair said. "These friendships that we made here will be for a long time. I have a little 94-year old neighbor. Wherever I go, she is going with me."
All of the changes are scheduled to occur mid-2018.
Residents whose leases expire before May or June can go month-to-month before the Independent Living contracts become permanent.
Cedarhurst sent a statement saying in part:
"We are sensitive to the fact that this conversion is a change for our current residents and are committed to honoring the terms of each of their leases. We believe that the changes being implemented will tremendously benefit our residents by providing them with additional needed services that are important as our resident population continues to age."
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