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Mobile home residents receive bad news
By KATHY FERGUSON
| Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 |
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SEMINOLE – Their mobile home addresses may differ, but all across Pinellas County, their stories are sadly similar.
“One of our residents is 95 years old,” said Theresa Lopez, Lake Shore Mobile Home Park resident, “She said to me, ‘Honey, if I lose my home here, I hope I die before they take it.’”
The park is at 8003 Seminole Blvd., in unincorporated Pinellas County.
In an emotional voice, Lopez shared this story with about 20 of her neighbors gathered in the park’s meeting room Sept. 29. They huddled to talk about a seven-line, one-paragraph letter from an attorney that might change their lives forever.
Their red-letter date arrived Sept. 19 as they were told that an unsolicited offer was made to purchase the almost 4-acre park. The asking price is $2.5 million with a closing date of Nov. 30, 2005.
Residents were not offered an opportunity to purchase the park. But the law does not require that such an offer be made when the offer is unsolicited. Close to 35 homes are in the small park, with about 70 residents, some of whom are seasonal.
To help residents consider their options, two local activists talked about their experiences battling big developers gobbling up property. Leo Plenski, president, Bay Pines Mobile Homeowners Association, and Charles Plancon, chairman of the Golden Lantern Mobile Homeowners Association, urged residents to get involved.
“There is strength in numbers,” said Plancon who added that about 500 such parks are located throughout Pinellas County. “The fight is just beginning.”
The magic words to battle rezoning efforts, he said, are “adequate, suitable and affordable” housing.
“It doesn’t exist in Pinellas County,” Plancon said.
Plancon told residents to keep a sharp eye on candidates vying for the house of representatives seat in District 51 vacated by Leslie Waters who is facing term limitations.
“There are six mobile home parks in this district,” he said.
Plenski echoed that comment by telling residents about the power of voting.
“Fire them when the election comes next year,” he said.
Plancon, warned against complacency.
“Get together, raise your voices,” he said.
Both activists encouraged writing individual letters of complaint to officials, real estate offices and banks. Attending every meeting where mobile home parks, especially their rezoning, are discussed is another important act. “Your impact can be far reaching,” said Plancon.
Plenski wrote a letter to residents telling them to keep the faith. He detailed a meeting with state Sen. Dennis Jones.
“He is well aware and definitely sympathetic to our plight,” wrote Plenski. “I feel he will be working with us in the future toward an amicable solution.”
Paul O’Connor, president of the Lake Shore Mobile Homeowners Association, said no zoning changes have been requested, and everyone in the park would be notified when that happens. Requests for land use changes could take months, he said. Recently, soil tests have been performed in the park.
“Maybe they will find sink holes,” O’Connor said.
“I’ve called a few resident-owned parks already,” said Lopez. “Many of them won’t take in homes built before 1995.”
Many residents added that their homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s. The park itself is more than 35 years old, said another resident.
“I’m going to fight to stay here, come hell or high water,” said Lopez. “Money talks. We have to go to these meetings and talk, too.”
“Are we going to fight to keep the park?” asked O’Connor, standing up before the group.
“Fight, fight, fight,” was shouted in unison by the elderly residents at Lake Shore Mobile Home Park.
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Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005
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