Mobile Home Park News Briefing

April 7th, 2023

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The Islander: Negotiations continue in bayfront trailer park sale

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Negotiations between the land owner and homeowners continue for the sale of the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach.

Bill Gorman, president at Lifestyle Choice Realty Inc. of Casselberry, representing the homeowner’s association, confirmed March 30, that negotiations are ongoing but declined to disclose other details related to the potential sale of the park at 103 Church Ave.

The Pines’ HOA retained Gorman to represent the homeowners’ interests in the sale of the park land, a process that got underway in late January.

The owners, Jackson Partnership of Bradenton, with Richard and William Jackson as its officers, listed the park for...

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Our thoughts on this story:

The residents of this park hope to buy it for $16.25 million and are trying to raise the money for the downpayment. So they set up a GoFundMe account and “as of April 3, the campaign had raised $500 of its $1 million goal with 14 donors”. I think it’s pretty clear this is another “first option” failure, and states that require a tenant “first option to purchase” requirement are doing nothing but giving people false hope and slowing down the rights of park owners to sell on the open market at the best price they can obtain.

If the residents did buy it – which is clearly not going to happen – how would they possibly afford to pay the regular cap-x issues that pop up? Another GoFundMe pitch?

Contrary to what woke journalists and advocates care to accept, owning real estate is capital intensive and you simply can’t participate if you are underfunded like this.

16 News Now WNDU: Property owners promise improvements to residents of River Grove Mobile Home Park

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BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. (WNDU) - Homes of America, the property owners of River Grove Mobile Home Park in Berrien Springs, held a meeting on Friday to hear residents’ concerns.

Even though the meeting was held from 2 p.m., to 4 p.m., at the Berrien Springs Public Library, a public location, 16 News Now was told that press was not allowed inside.

After the meeting, residents shared that they were able to voice their concerns about abandoned trailers, and issues with water pipes and sewage.

According to residents of River Grove Mobile Home Park, many of the issues they have aren’t new and have been problems for years.

Homes of America is the...

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Our thoughts on this story:

You’ve got to love it when the media and residents consider the park owner merely a punching bag. Well, when you punch the park owner repeatedly they tend to hit back with either redeveloping the park into another use or raising the rent to market levels to pay for all of the items residents are complaining about. Not sure that the residents have thought through this very carefully. Homes of America is the new owner with the goal of bringing this old, failing property back to life. They have risked their capital buying it and arranged for financing to make it possible. Instead of complaining and threatening, the residents should be asking the new owner “what more can we do to help in this process?” That’s the smart approach that’s a win/win for all involved.

AXIOS Cleveland: Euclid Beach mobile home residents not giving up their fight

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The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and the United Residents of Euclid Beach are not giving up a fight to protect the mobile home park in Collinwood.

Driving the news: The groups unveiled a painted trailer emblazoned with messages — "Residents demand to stay!" and "Let E.B. residents stay" — during a demonstration yesterday outside the downtown offices of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

  • Representatives from the groups also delivered nearly 5,000 signatures from an online petition to save the community.

Catch up quick: The conservancy announced in February its plans to convert the site to greenspace, which would displace...

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Our thoughts on this story:

Now why would a non-profit like the Western Reserve Land Conservancy want to shut down a wonderful community of model citizens to simply allow for more “green space”? Take a look at the RV they painted and parked in front of the park owner’s offices and I think you might figure it all out.

Sandusky Register: Huron to acquire mobile home park

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HURON — Driven to remedy several issues at an unsightly RV/mobile home park, which poses many safety concerns and health hazards, Huron officials took some decisive action.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, staff members announced they’ll commit $900,000 to purchase what’s known as Oster’s mobile home park at Cleveland and Rye Beach (U.S. 6) roads beside LEMmy’s. The site totals about 2.5 acres. The actual owners are several trustees.

After each resident moves out, likely taking place throughout 2023, officials plan on clearing this site.

For years, problems presented issues for all who lived in or nearby this area.

“Oster’s mobile...

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Our thoughts on this story:

Boy, the City of Huron sure taught this park owner a lesson! They gave him $900,000 for 2.5 acres of land and 35 dilapidated RVs they are going to demolish as part of the purchase. And the city is left with the burden of displacing all of these people and with hiring Hallmark Greeting Cards (or so it would appear) to write P.R. releases on the deal like this one: “We will come up with a vision and plan for how to best utilize this space,” Lasko said. “I truly mean it when the city says, ‘We don’t have in mind what the use should be.’ We want it to be community-driven and supported by the residents that live adjacent to it.”

Record-Journal: Tiny house development takes shape in Meriden

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MERIDEN — The initial stages of development are underway for a tiny home subdivision on North Broad Street.

Foundations for 12 tiny homes at the former site of Smitty's Snack Bar and an adjacent trailer park are being constructed by Salvatore Carabetta, doing business as North Broad Park LLC.

They received a special exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals to change the use at 1173 and 1187 N. Broad St. from a mixed-use, 12-unit mobile home park with restaurant to a 12-unit detached multi-family development with no restaurant. The homes would be leased.

The Zoning Board of Appeals granted the request with conditions this past summer....

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Our thoughts on this story:

OK, here’s the funniest quote this week: "[the developer] stated that the biggest benefit of the project is that it will have a positive impact on the value of the properties in the neighborhood". Yes, of course, what neighbor would not want a 12’ x 40’ tiny home jammed into the lot next to them? Not sure if anyone has ever bothered to look at Zillow regarding the value of single-family homes next to mobile home parks as compared to those that are not next to mobile home parks. It’s not pretty.

ABC 15 Arizona: Governor signs bill offering more money to displaced mobile home park tenants

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Residents of multiple mobile home parks have been left to figure out how to move out of their current homes due to redevelopment efforts in the surrounding communities.

"Before this news about us having to leave, I lived a good life here,” said Las Casitas resident Freddy Ortiz.

Ortiz has lived in the Las Casitas mobile home park with his mom, dad and brother for 15 years. He says his stress levels have been rising since learning all residents will need to leave by May 1, 2023.

"It was just so crazy because everything is so expensive now and to find a house is not easy,” added Ortiz.

The Ortiz family plans to pack up and leave the mobile...

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Our thoughts on this story:

First they offered them $10,000. Then they offered them $20,000. But “many residents say that doesn’t go far enough”. Kind of a strange negotiation when the state is burning money that probably no voter ever agreed to, and seems to not know anything about the value of a dollar.

12 News: Last-minute break lets residents avoid eviction from Phoenix mobile home park

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PHOENIX — Dozens of residents facing eviction Saturday from a Phoenix mobile home park got a last-minute break from the park owner: they can stay on for three more months.

But the future remains uncertain for people who live at the Weldon Court park, near 16th Street and Osborn Road, and at two other Phoenix sites, where evictions are scheduled through May.

"There's 65 families here," said Robert Cooper, a Weldon Court resident for 10 years. He fears many residents will become homeless.

"There's a lot of children and grandparents and school kids. A lot of them are going to fall through the cracks."

Mobile home park residents...

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Our thoughts on this story:

It seems the media only likes mobile home parks when they are being demolished, stating “now property owners, many of them large investors, are seeking higher returns on the land as rents and housing values rise. That’s squeezing out mobile home park residents across the country. Here in Phoenix, new housing for the residents could cost double or triple what they’re paying for their mobile home”. Of course, if it was not being demolished, the media would complain that “out of town owners raising rents and ruining lives”. Can’t have it both ways.

Action News Now: Crime crackdown: Antelope Homewood Mobile Park gets its own crime task force

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RED BLUFF, Calif. - The Antelope Mobile Home Park is getting its own crime task force.  

Several people living at Antelope Homewood Mobile Home Park say trash, fire and crime have become all too common at the mobile home park. 

Some people said they've seen increased drugs and theft, and police answer calls here regularly.

"I've noticed a lot of the drug traffic that has increased here," one person said. "A lot of the kids aren't able to come out and play here anymore like they used to because they don't feel safe."

"It just doesn't feel like a park should," another resident said. "You should feel safe enough to let your kids and...

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Our thoughts on this story:

I’m not sure that any private property owner in California has the ability to correct the endless crime issues. A HUD study on mobile home park crime found that it mirrors nearby subdivisions. Bet if I got in my car and went to this property it would not look anyone worse than the surrounding neighborhood.

Coldwater Daily Reporter: Trail Tree Village expansion approved in Coldwater

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COLDWATER — After listening to residents of for nearly an hour Monday, the Coldwater Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a special land use permit to expand Trail Tree Village manufactured housing development to the west by between 76 to 78 lots.

Concerns prompted the developer to propose and the commission to require four conditions and changes to the site plan before work on the undeveloped 17.86 acres can begin. 

Kim Scott, the representative of owner Cambio Communities of Southfield, agreed to make four changes in the site plan after hearing concerns:

  • A buffer of two rows of pine trees between the project and Thompson...
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Our thoughts on this story:

NOW THIS IS HOW YOU GET AN EXPANSION DONE! Here’s what the park owner offered in trade for the right to expand:

  • A buffer of two rows of pine trees between the project and Thompson Boulevard homes to the west.
  • Relocate the entrance on Seeley Street away from Thompson to the east side of the property. 
  • Move a dumpster away from Thompson Boulevard.
  • Construct a sidewalk along the south side of Seeley to the east along the developer's property as part of the city’s efforts to make the community more walkable.  

In other words, they offered to block the park from the view of all the neighbors if they would agree to let more trailers move in. Good job.

KXLY: Local program could help Cheney mobile home park neighbors keep their homes

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CHENEY, Wash. -- A plan under consideration right now could allow neighbors of a Cheney mobile home park to keep their homes.

4 News Now has been covering a redevelopment plan for the North Cheney Mobile Home Park, which many neighbors disagreed with, saying they don't want to be relocated or kicked out.

Now, the Northwest Cooperative Development Center is talking with the land owners, discussing a program called "ROC Northwest" that would help residents stay right where they are.

"We work with owners and sellers from manufactured communities under contract. We go through a standard purchase process, and at the end of day,...

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Our thoughts on this story:

It’s a huge undertaking for the residents to buy the park they live in. We’ve sold several properties to the tenants and while no park owner is opposed to the concept many are simply not patient enough to provide the months and months of time required from start to finish.

KSUT: Far-reaching housing proposal would impact Colorado communities big and small

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Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic state lawmakers unveiled the most significant land-use reform in decades last week. The sweeping new efforts to address Colorado’s housing crisis are focused on increasing residential density in the state’s cities and towns.

“This is how we will make more housing options for every Colorado budget in every community, drive down costs that are pricing Coloradans out of our homes and out of our neighborhoods,” Polis said.

The Common Sense Institute found Colorado had a housing shortage of 225,000 units in 2021, and the affordability of purchasing a home was the lowest in 33 years. According to the Bell Policy...

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Our thoughts on this story:

This bill only covers “duplexes, triplexes and multiplexes” – but not one mention of mobile home parks. As always, mobile home parks get zero respect. But, of course, that’s what keeps values high as nobody ever allows new ones to be built.

MIssoulian: Frenchtown lawmaker offers mobile home tenant 'bill of rights'

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Cindy Newman, a trailer court resident from Great Falls, told a Legislative committee in Helena on Thursday that most of the residents where she lives are elderly and on fixed incomes and can’t afford the drastic lot rent increases that have been happening in recent years.

“We are here today because our communities are under threat,” she said. “Real estate investors have seized on the vulnerability of homeowners who own homes but rent the land. They have built a highly profitable business model that relies on our limited mobility to squeeze large profits out of moderate-income residents."

Newman was speaking as a proponent of House...

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Our thoughts on this story:

When someone coins their proposed law as a “Bill of Rights” you know it’s just a P.R. stunt trying to pander to voters who don’t know any better. Behind the fancy title, all you have is a bill that will help deadbeats stay on property without paying and the very rules violators who ruin life for the entire community to continue with their antics without any accountability. Hopefully there are enough smart people in Montana’s state house to realize this is a terrible idea.

Loveland Reporter-Herald: Mobile home park in Fort Collins changes hands for $57M

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An Orem, Utah-based company that invests in mobile home and manufactured home sites across the country has purchased the Cloverleaf Community in Fort Collins for $57 million. A related property was also purchased for $3 million.

The transactions, dated March 14, were between buyer Cloverleaf Colorado II LLC and seller Royce Cloverleaf LLC based in Phoenix, Arizona. The buyer listed an address of 51 W. Center St. in Orem, which is the same address as Havenpark Communities, which owns about 25 mobile home parks across the country.

Cloverleaf Community is located at 412 E. Mulberry in Fort Collins. It contains 391 home sites.

Royce...

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Our thoughts on this story:

It’s still nowhere close to the record for a single mobile home park, with the one near Silicon Valley selling for over $200 million a few years ago. But a nice try anyway.