I made your neighbors' stories more positive.

Bel Air Creekside: rent raised 52%

My rent went from $940 to $1,430. It made my wife and I relocate and buy a home. If we had waited even two months longer, it wouldn't have been possible.

Abilene resident, military family

They have a bunch of issues with plumbing and crime. They just take money and don't care.

Same resident, on Bel Air Creekside management

I have worked in multifamily for 3 years. I have never in my life seen so many apartments stay at 100% occupancy for so long. Homelessness is exploding in Abilene. Landlords are issuing non-renewals on long-term tenants just to reset rents higher.

Multifamily industry worker, Abilene

Mostly just higher rent on the same product, no improvements. Low-income residents and fixed-income tenants seem hit hardest. Single-parent households can't meet the 3x rent requirement.

Same source

My landlord raised my rent from $1,500 to $1,750. Constant inspections over tiny things. Filed eviction on fines. Removed my ability to pay rent online until fines were paid. My kids love it here, but after my oldest graduates next year, we will have to move. I can't afford to live here anymore.

Abilene resident and multifamily worker

Other residents in my community saw an average $300 increase on their lease renewals. I haven't received mine yet, but I'm anticipating a non-renewal.

Same source

We were unable to find affordable housing even with a housing voucher. We are lucky to have found an extended stay before the rise of housing costs. We fear if we ever find a place and the rent is raised, we will have nowhere to go. So we stay where we are.

Abilene resident, housing voucher holder

Potosi

Right on my street, two multi-unit dwellings are being built. Ruining our lives and what we paid for. I spoke with the city manager and he said there was nothing to do but sue and let the lawyers get all our money. They are stealing our lives and our land.

Potosi homeowner, Indian Trail

Even with our military housing rate increase, it's too expensive. All of the lower-ranked people are suffering. They can't afford housing and base is full.

Active duty military member, Abilene

Stargate AI data center, north Abilene

I have inhaled fumes from the data center. We see gray smoke from the stacks. I can sit on my porch and count 8 or 9 water trucks a day. We moved to Abilene because it was a nice, friendly community. We were not told they were going to build this here. We as Abilenians were not given the option to vote yes or no. My lights went up. My water bill went up. We are suffering on the north side. Abilene was doing just fine.

North Abilene resident

Lancium: Jones County and Hawley area

They are actively working to buy over 7,000 acres in Jones County. None of the residents of Hawley have been given any information or allowed to protest. It's happening in small back rooms in small rural counties where poorer communities are being taken advantage of. People have saved their whole lives to build their dream houses or live on family farms. It's awful.

Jones County area resident

Orion Investments: reported Abilene landlord

A musician who has played in the Abilene music scene for nearly a decade shared this account directly. His mother, a domestic abuse survivor unable to work, has been on a housing voucher for years. The family, him, his sibling, and their mom, had been living together in Abilene to help her get by. Their landlord raised the rent from $1,500 to $3,200. More than double. The housing voucher his mother depends on to survive is now useless in Abilene. There is nowhere in the city it will cover. They were forced to leave. He is being pushed out of the city he has called home. His mother's stability, built piece by piece after leaving an abusive situation, has been dismantled by a rent increase timed to the Stargate construction boom.

When asked whether it was a private landlord or a company: "I think it was a private company, Orion Investments or something like that."

Abilene musician, direct submission

I was fine here alone until the ranch behind me sold to investors. I understand the property will be used to mine gravel for data centers. I can't imagine the noise, dust, vibrations, possible commercial traffic through my yard, destruction to my home and peace, and rattlesnakes and other wildlife being evicted looking for new homes. It will affect not only me, but neighbors and farmers and ranchers here.

Rural Taylor County resident, direct submission

Other property owners have been tragically affected by the data center explosion and the environmental and economic ramifications. I know I'm not alone.

Same source