Riviera Estates Pressure Campaign Update
by Elton LK
The Boise metro area has an affordable housing crisis. Mobile homes are an important component of the Treasure Valley’s low cost housing. The Riviera Estate is a quiet mobile home park where children can play outdoors near the entrance of the Eagle Island state park. But their community has been under attack by Demetre Booker Jr of Elevate Commercial, their new landlord.
When Demetre, who presents himself as a ‘socially responsible’ rags-to-riches success story, bought the mobile home park last year he immediately began making many changes that have made the lives of the residents miserable, including a rent hike of roughly 40%, harassment and arbitrary rules, destructive ‘renovations’ to the park, and more. In October and in response to these attacks, the residents formed Idaho’s first fighting, supermajority tenants union And submitted demands to Demetre, including that he meet them at the bargaining table to negotiate a collectively-bargained lease or agree in writing to sell them the park.
Elevate Commercial purchased the park in June, 2025. They raised the rent 40%, issued arbitrary, retaliatory and unreasonable fees and eviction notices, and cut down trees central to the beauty of the riparian area next to the Boise River without warning. They have undertaken massive improvements projects that disrupted the lives of the residents.
Suzanne, a resident on a fixed income, was charged a $3,900 landscaping fee without warning or explanation. Through a pressure campaign the union was able to get Elevate Commercial to rescind the fee.
Demetre Booker, Jr., the founder of Elevate Commercial has refused to work with residents, which is why they formed Idaho’s first fighting tenants union. To regain control of their lives they agreed upon a collection of demands, including the following:
Repairs must be fixed within 24 hours, otherwise they must be compensated
Union has authority over changes to the property, including tree removal
Residents must be notified 7 days in advance before management will be given access (except in emergencies)
Rollback and reimbursement of fees and increases rent
Rent increase cap of 2% per year
The capitalist class is used to having all the power, doing what they want, telling the rest of us what to do. Boise DSA stands with the courageous residents of Riviera Estates as they fight for dignity and freedom. Boise DSA, the Treasure Valley Tenants Union, the Riviera Estates Tenants Union, and other local organizations are working to support RETU by canvassing the community to build support for the tenants in their struggle for justice against Demetre. Keep an eye out for public canvassing events in the next few weeks, and follow @riviera_tenants to donate and otherwise support the cause.