Manitou apartment complex residents adjust to first week since eviction

The last few residents of Beckers Lane Lodge in Manitou Springs have finally moved out but that hasn’t ended the problems for some tenants who left a week ago.

The 22-unit complex has been vacant since early Sunday morning when the remaining residents left. The owner’s unpaid utility bill led to the water being shut off, and police declaring the complex unsafe and unsanitary.

A local church paid for some tenants to say in motels for a week but that money has run out and several residents don’t have enough money to pay on their own, or don’t have family and friends to help.

“One couple I know has nowhere to go,” said Beckers manager June Hopkins. “I’m doing my best to help them find something. Right now they’re just driving around in a friend’s car.”

Manitou Springs City Councilman Sarge MacDonald runs a motel where two families from Beckers are paying to stay. He said he made it clear to residents that they’d be on their own at some point.

“I didn’t mislead anyone,” he said. “I told them the church would take appointments on an individual basis for assistance. I spent some of my own money to help, but I can’t afford to keep doing that.”

MacDonald said of the three people who initially expressed interest in buying the property from owner Bill Shirley, one has backed out and the remaining two are considering teaming up to share ownership responsibilities.

Shirley has declined to comment on the situation but his assistant, Rita Mae Murray, said he’s trying his best to resolve the issues of having no business license, no water service and residents who didn’t pay rent — reportedly on the advice of city officials who have denied giving such advice.

“The city and Bill have been doing this dance for many years about the license,” she said. That’s a gray area for both sides, they keep bringing it up again, things like that.”

Hopkins said she is accepting donations for anyone who wants to help residents in need. She said anyone interested should call 719-452-9385.