Tenants of a Lexington senior living community turned out in force for a meeting Monday night to discuss plans by the owner to begin charging for meals. The Lafayette is owned by Phoenix Senior Living, which sent their director of dining to explain the plan and answer questions. John Baillie explained that in exchange, the company won’t increase rent through the end of next year. “We try to do the trade off with what would you have gotten for a rent increase? So if your rent increase was going to be again, just making up numbers, $1,000 and you only spend $600 on food, you win. I don’t know the rent honestly, I don’t do rent increases, folks.” Baillie said the company has begun charging for meals at four other sites and only one tenant has left as a result. He took plenty of questions, but few of his answers satisfied the overflow crowd on the first floor. “My question would be, ‘Has there been any mention of what percentage or dollar amount of their current rent would be utilized as restaurant credits, or are we talking everything would be a la carte?’” “Would any of the rent go towards a credit towards the food? Or is everything a la carte? Everything is a la carte.” Baillie so also couldn’t answer questions involving security concerns over the company’s decision to open the restaurant and lounge to the public starting January 2nd, when they begin charging for meals. ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation. The post Residents of senior independent living facility in Lexington upset over plan to begin charging them for meals appeared first on The Lexington Times.