Editor: I agree that mobile homes are affordable housing, and I agree that mobile homes park owners should give the residents first right of refusal, but there is much more to it than just that. If the homeowners are unable to purchase the park, then the owner and purchaser should do all that they can to see to it that the homeowner is financially reimbursed for their homes so that they can afford to move if the park is to be re-developed. They, the park owner, should show his/her respect to the ones who helped pay the bills and put money in his or her pockets. Business isn’t business if you don’t have a client. That is what has happened with the 68 home owners association members.
We went to the developer’s attorney and made them an offer to settle with us. We did this only after we found that if would take over $1 million in repairs to bring the land itself up to code and then we’d have to bring all of the park rentals up to code or have them removed costing another million dollars, adding that to the cost of the purchase price the inconvenience of everyone having to live in that kind of a mess for three to six months it just wasn’t feasible so we did the next best thing and decided to make a deal to sell our homes to the park owner and the developer.
Yes. Sixty-eight homeowners will split $1.25 million and the homeowners association board is willing to help all of the residents find a home. Helping them find grants and loans and a way for this to better their lives. We don’t intend to quit until everyone is taken care of, at least the ones that want our help, including the renters. Just so that everyone knows we don’t have to do any of this, we chose too. This park has been a major part of our lives, we have made lifetime friends here and we will continue to be friends, we are a family.
My plan in the future is to change a few laws here in Florida and some right here in Pinellas County, as well as get some programs started to help with the housing problem and some to help mobile home owners purchase their parks so that this doesn’t happen to them.
I have been doing the research for all of these and I intend to see them through. I have made some great contacts with other states who have similar programs and laws that I would like to see here in Pinellas County as well as the state of Florida. Keep your eyes and ears open in the next two years; I will be getting things done. This is a promise.
Jennifer Cocciardi President of the Golden Lantern Home Owners Association Pinellas County
