Beware of for-profit mental hospitals
I recently attended a meeting of 15 to 20 homeowners in the Avondale area to discuss what could be called the invasion of for-profit residential mental hospitals. Three of these businesses are located in walking distance of each other. These mental hospitals are situated in quiet, single-family residential communities containing many children, working families and retirees.
When I purchased my home 34 years ago, our homeowners association did not permit business operations in residential areas. Try to imagine the overall negative effect these mental facilities have on values and safety issues.
To that end I offer the following examples.
- A former neighbor had a mental hospital buy the house next door. Problems soon arose with some of the inmates. The neighbor’s complaints were ignored, which caused him to put his beautiful home up for sale. He left the state. It took the better part of six years to sell this home, for obvious reasons.
- Another neighbor discovered a group of inmates smoking dope under pine trees in his front yard. They were promptly run off.
- A female inmate from the Friar Drive mental hospital escaped and walked to a local restrauant, where she caused a disturbance that required the management to call the police. The inmate was returned to the mental hospital.
- My final example occurred some months ago when another neighbor — a good friend — placed her home on the market. Shortly thereafter she received an offer, which she accepted. At this same time, another real-estate salesman came in with a full-price cash offer. As it turned out, this agent was a representative of one of the commercial mental hospital companies. Talk about dodging a bullet.
The people should be aware that the residential mental hospital business is in cahoots with at least two real estate companies and agents. You can bet that these agents will never sell these kinds of homes in their own neighborhoods.
I have recently become aware of a group home/mental hospital company that is looking into the purchase of one of the new 15-story, One Lakeside luxury condominiums. Should this take place, I’m quite sure the mental patients admitted will be only of the highest quality. Of course, the aforementioned condos will be more than willing to sell as they would not want to discriminate against any of the protected people.
I could go on but will conclude with the following question. What happened to the rights of the people who live in the Avondale area who have worked hard all their lives, are busy raising their children and the retirees who want to enjoy the rest of their lives in peace and quiet? Who is looking out for them? Who are the people behind these mental-health businesses — and where do the funds come from?
- • •
Michael Murphy lives in Hayden Lake.