About 150 tenants of city-owned affordable rental properties scheduled to go on the market gathered yesterday to unify and devise a strategy to have their voices heard.

The residents came from around the Island, and after a day of talks, left the meeting at Harris United Methodist Church with a new understanding of grassroots campaigning — along with a set of recommendations for the city on what they want in potential buyers.

The gathering was the first since the mayor announced at a February news conference that he would sell off the city's 12 affordable-housing properties in phases.

Though the mayor pledged the properties would remain affordable in perpetuity, with deed restrictions passed on if the properties are resold, tenants are fearful. Many are on fixed incomes and say they cannot afford any sizeable rent increases.

Ellan Taylor, who has lived at Marin Tower for a decade, said there are many tenants in her building who have barely enough to make ends meet. "My God," she said, "what are these people going to do? I've been close to homelessness in the past, and it's frightening."

In their discussions yesterday, tenants said they want any potential buyers of the affordable properties to agree to certain criteria, including a pledge to spend money on backlogged maintenance and avoid any considerable rent increases.

The recommendations will be sent to the mayor and the City Council. Tenants also pledged to personally write lawmakers with their concerns and persuade others to do the same.

Cat Wong, a resident at Chinatown Gateway Plaza, said since the mayor announced his plans to sell the properties, tenants have been organizing.

The meeting yesterday was aimed at bringing representatives from the different properties together so they can fight together to save their homes and present a unified front to the public and the city. "We want to do something before it is too late," she said.

Anthony Martin, who lives at Chinatown Manor, said he was surprised at how many people showed up. "I really wanted to see how many people came," Martin said.

"Now, the organizational framework needs to be established so that we're united."

Former state Rep. Bev Harbin and Faith Action for Community Equity, the nonprofit that fought redevelopment of affordable apartments at Kukui Gardens, organized yesterday's meeting and primed tenants on how to stick together and generate support.

Harbin has been serving as a consultant for FACE, and since December, has received about $6,000 in FACE funds to help organize tenants, send letters to lawmakers and keep abreast of the situation.

She said the tenants will hold meetings regularly in coming months. They also plan to hold their first sign-waving event on June 20 in front of Honolulu Hale, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Drew Astolfi, lead organizer for FACE, said it's important tenants get involved in the process early and make it clear what they want from the city and potential owners.

He added he hopes the city takes the process slowly.

"It's very important the city not see these as an asset to convert into cash," he said.

Though there is no timetable for the sale of the buildings, the city has said it will put the 160-unit Kulana Nani apartment complex in Kane'ohe on the market first and follow with more sell-offs, either of individual buildings or groups of housing complexes.

Six of the city's affordable projects are in Chinatown or downtown, while the rest are sprinkled across the Island. In all, the projects have 1,257 one- to four-bedroom apartments.

Marin Tower, the city's newest and largest affordable rental complex, was built in 1994.

The oldest — the Bachelors Quarters in 'Ewa — was built in 1938.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.