A Vancouver-based nonprofit took over the operations of the former Kasper Recovery Housing at Hazel Dell and renamed it Project Safe Haven.
James Kasper of Vancouver, who recovered from his addiction, made a splash by renovating the famous Value Motel, 708 N. E. 78th St. , into a rehab house in 2020. Kasper Recovery Housing opened its doors in 2021 and has welcomed others in recovery. it reached its maximum capacity of 58 more people and had a waiting list of about 100 more people, Kasper said.
But in recent months, members of the network have noticed that the recovery strategy sign and its skull logo have been painted.
Kasper’s lease on the assets was not renewed after it expired in August.
When The Columbian toured the assets on Monday, Jeff Talbott, chief operating officer of Lumen Fidelis, said his nonprofit has been monitoring the assets since Sept. 1. On its website, Lumen Fidelis shows a photo of the Value Motel before Kasper’s renovation.
“Through a complete renovation of the hotel, we envisioned a revitalized area where other people find more than just a refuge – they find genuine refuge,” he says. “Our movements aim to empower citizens to regain their dignity, fostering a sense of community. and laying the foundation for a better future.
Kasper is now suing the motel’s owners, alleging they reneged on the promise they had made to him about the assets.
In January 2023, Kasper filed a lawsuit in Clark County Superior Court against several companies, alleging breach of lease and breach of contract at 4 properties. In March, it amended the lawsuit to charge a seventh cause of action related to ownership of the property. motel.
Brenda Christina and Milton O. Brown run Commercial Adventures LLC, which owns the motel property and also the other corporations named in the lawsuit.
On Friday, Christina declined to answer questions from The Columbian. He showed that someone else was overseeing the recovery house, but declined to say who. When he reached out again Monday to ask follow-up questions, he hung up.
Kasper’s lawsuit alleges that Commercial Adventures LLC, through Christina and Brown, promised to sell Kasper ownership of the motel “if he would devote the time and resources necessary to substantially construct and complete all painting and maintenance necessary to obtain a profession license and make it habitable. ” yet. “
Kasper spent more than $1. 5 million to renovate the property.
In the lawsuit, he alleges that Christina and Brown knew he spent huge sums of cash to renovate the property.
“We guided Mr. Kasper, thinking that he could stay in the building long-term, either by renting it out or owning it,” Kasper’s attorney, Steven Turner, said in an interview Monday. “Instead, right after the 3-year lease ended, they started it. I would never have invested that money if I had thought it would only last 3 years.
The lawsuit claims Christina and Brown “did nothing to dissuade Kasper” from spending time on the property, and then reneged on their promise to sell it to him.
“Commercial Adventures LLC has unfairly enriched itself by reaping the rewards of Kasper’s efforts to renovate the assets thanks to Brenda Christina and Milton O. Brown’s false promises that Kasper would be permitted to acquire the assets once the renovations were completed,” the lawsuit states. .
The defendants filed a reaction on April 1 denying Kasper’s allegations related to motel ownership and disputing the other claims. Kasper is being awarded more than $1 million in economic damages for all of his claims, according to court documents.
On Monday, Kasper told Columbian that he is in favor of buying new assets to create a recovery house. He plans to open the new homes by the end of the year, he said.