Eric Miller with Suite Liv’n sent me an email a couple weeks ago inviting the Independent to cover a community outreach event involving apartment residents.

The email stated that volunteers would be gathering to paint small flower pots and then add the soil and seeds. The pots were eventually presented to residents at Boulder Estates on Friday.

It sounded like a good photo opportunity so I showed up.

The group finished the flower pots early before I arrived, but I did catch up with Miller, and he described the project.

“We had a community activity where we had the kids paint the flower pots. And then we’ll be donating those flower pots to the Boulder Estates retirement community Friday as a gift from the kids,” Miller said.

He explained that about 35 youths and 15 adults participated in the project. Even a couple housekeeping workers helped out.

“Just trying to get known in the community for doing that kind of stuff. So these are all residents of Suite Liv’n and we did partner with UCAP (United Community Action Partnership). “We are just getting our feet wet, but we planned to more of them. This is my third event. Did an Easter egg hunt and pictures.”

That led me to my next questions.

Why are doing this?

Is this normal for a large apartment complex to sponsor such events to benefit the community?

“We are trying to be a productive and outgoing member of the community,” Miller said. “We want to let Marshall know that Suite Liv’n is here to stay and we’re a good community. I guess it had some bad reputation in the past I’m not unaware of it. I’ve only been here for a year, but that’s my job  — community outreach.”

I remember when the “bad reputation” occurred.

I was editor of the Independent for only a couple years in 2021 when it reported on Wilmar-based Suite Liv’n terminating tenant leases at one of their apartment buildings they had taken over. The Independent had received numerous phone calls and email from upset tenants who now had to look for a new place to live.

Suit Liv’n eventually released a statement to the press on heating and ventilation issues with the building and a concerns over the possibility of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.

Tenants eventually petition Lyon County District Court over the lease terminations. A judge ruled that Suite Liv’n needed to fix the heating system, but didn’t mention upholding the tenants’ leases.

A year later, the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on the 103-unit apartment building after rehabilitation work was completed.

“We gutted it, but on the sense that you tear walls,” said Suite Liv’n representative Gabe Olsen. He told the Independent that the building has new roofs, boilers, appliances, carpet, fresh paint and plumbing repairs. He estimated the renovation cost around $3 million.

He also invited the former tenants to apply for the renovated apartments.

Olson was quoted at the time that it was “horrible” going through the controversy and legal issues.

“It was a hard spot to be in,” Olson said.

That incident was bad enough, but Suite Liv’n found itself in another legal quagmire in 2022 with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Suit Liv’n started charging separate monthly utility fees, but didn’t take any of the steps required by law, according Ellison. Ellison threatened to sue and a settlement was reached.

Ellison reported that Suite Liv’n would refund a total of about $50,000 to $60,000 to tenants in the various cities they operate apartment buildings, including Marshall.

Today, Suite Liv’n operates five apartment buildings in Marshall and 16 throughout southern Minnesota.

It appears the bad press days are behind Suite Liv’n. And if Miller has anything to do with it, only positive news will be reported.

“We want the community of Marshall to come in and to know that it’s open and be part of the community too,” Miller said.

Community pride within the buildings among the residents is another benefit of holding volunteer activities.

“It really brought the community together. You see less trash because this is where you live,” he said. “My famous saying is we all do better when we all do better. It’s just not being afraid to talk to your neighbor. Ask for a cup of sugar. And I feel COVID kind of slowed that down for everyone. In a small town, you should have that kind of a community.”

So is the reputation repaired?

Well, time is a good healer. And a little bit of goodwill doesn’t hurt.