North Star tenants urge city help as rents rise and management is accused of neglect

Leaders of the North Star Tenants Union urged Missoula city officials on April 27 to press Plum Property Management into negotiations after residents said rents have soared and basic maintenance has been neglected.

"Under their stewardship, our rent has tripled in under 4 years," said Sean McGurr, a North Star tenants-union leader, describing residents he said include nurses, teachers and retirees on fixed incomes. McGurr said the park at 740 Turner Street faces risks of homelessness for some tenants and asked the mayor and council to sign a letter requesting Plum meet the union "at the negotiating table."

Other residents described chronic problems they say management has ignored. "We have dying and overgrown trees. Branches are falling on our roofs and on our vehicles and pose a threat to safety to our children," said Janice Deamer, a member of the North Star leadership team. CJ Taylor, also on the leadership team, said the community has organized clean‑up and gardening teams while facing steep rent increases: "In the last 4 years, our rent started at under 300 and is now at $800 a month."

Mayor Andrea Davis acknowledged the residents' frustration and said the city lacks some state authorities to protect manufactured‑housing residents directly but pledged to continue facilitating conversations. "I share in their frustration," Davis said, and said she had discussed workforce‑housing and TIF tools at a recent state housing workshop.

Council President Nugent noted that several past state bills aimed at tenant protections, including a right‑of‑first‑refusal measure, were vetoed at the state level and urged tenants to pursue individual leaseholder channels when possible. "There is no requirement in state law for the landlord to speak with a group, but they have to speak to the individual leaseholders," Nugent said, and offered to help facilitate conversations.

Tenants said they have repeatedly tried to contact Plum Property Management and its registered agent with little response; councilors and the mayor encouraged the tenants' organizing and pointed to potential state‑level remedies but did not announce a specific city action at the meeting.

The council heard multiple public comments and was urged to follow up; several council members, including Councilor Melson, spoke afterward to thank the residents and to offer help coordinating next steps. The council did not take formal action that night beyond listening and inviting further engagement.