LDS Church to assist renters displaced by redevelopment near Mesa temple

The investment arm of the Mormon church will assist Mesa renters living in church-owned properties in finding new housing after asking them to vacate for planned redevelopment, according to a spokesman for the church's development arm.

Property managers told 19 renters they would need to leave their homes by July. Land Equity Investors LLC, the investment arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, owns the properties, which are located mostly on Udall Street near the temple on Main Street in downtown Mesa.

Many are slated to be demolished to make way for redevelopment around the temple area, a redevelopment that preservationists worry will forever alter the neighborhood, which is designated historic.

MORE COVERAGE: Temple's redevelopment plans raise preservation concerns

Frank Ortega, one of the renters, said last week that he and his wife were caught off-guard by the seemingly sudden request to vacate. Ortega is concerned by the high cost of moving and the timing. He has a severe heart condition, making the move in the June heat a challenge.

The church has not revealed its plans for redevelopment, but recently unveiled renderings for renovations within the temple itself. The temple will close for construction for two years starting May 20.

How the church says it will help displaced renters

Property managers gave renters more advance notice — about two months — than required on the month-to-month rental contracts they signed when they moved in, Dale Bills, with City Creek Reserve, the LDS church's development arm, said in an emailed statement.

Bills said in the statement that City Creek Reserve will assist the renters in the following ways:

The church's investment arm is holding seven of its vacant properties for the renters, in case they decide they would like to rent one of those properties.

A property management firm is helping renters find a new place to live, compiling a list of available properties that has been sent to the tenants. It includes properties from competitors, Bills said.

If tenants are out by June 30, 2018, the property manager will refund June's rent completely.

Bills said the church is still refining redevelopment plans for the area and will release those plans sometime in the next several weeks.

Reach reporter Lily Altavena at laltavena@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8927. Follow her on Twitter: @lilyalta.