Sun-Sentinel 11/11/04Seminole's plan to evict mobile home ownersWe would like to thank Adrianna C. Rodriguez for quickly
reporting this most important issue.
-------------------- By Adrianna C. Rodriguez South Florida Sun-Sentinel July 12, 2006 DAVIE -- Even the Seminole Tribe, which earns hundreds of millions yearly from its casinos and other holdings, is facing a housing crunch. "The tribe is in a position like so many entities in South Florida. There's just not enough affordable housing," said Gary Bitner, spokesman for the more than 3,000-member tribe. Bitner said there is a "long waiting list" of people, mostly young families, waiting for a home. "These are people who grew up on the Hollywood reservation and want to stay," he said. To accommodate them, in February the Seminoles purchased the Stirling Road Mobile Home Park near State Road 7 for $6.9 million. But their solution means the mobile home park's 150 low-income residents must move. On May 26, they were told they have until Dec. 1 to find a new place to live. But their choices are few as affordable housing opportunities shrink by the day. "We are in the midst of an affordable housing crisis which was exacerbated by Hurricane Wilma," said Shirley Taylor-Prakelt, director of housing and community development for the town. The town lost 985 structures in the hurricane, including 832 mobile homes, said Taylor-Prakelt. In addition, the town has lost more than 889 affordable rental apartments to condo conversion. Nearly all the mobile homes in the Stirling Road park are too old to move, according to state statute, so the residents must leave them behind. "It's really hard knowing we have to start all over again," said Donna Hanner, 55, who has lived in the park with husband Jim Hanner for more than 20 years. They bought their mid-1970's home for $12,500. The tribe has offered them $2,750 to move out by August. "They really done us a raw deal," said Jim, 59, who has postponed retirement indefinitely because he expects his housing payments will double once he moves. The tribe has not decided what type of homes or how many it will build on the property. And it has not made a final decision on whether it will seek to de-annex the land, Bitner said. In order to de-annex, the tribe must petition the U.S. Department of Interior to hold the land in trust for them. If granted, the property becomes part of the sovereign Seminole nation and is no longer part of Davie or the town's tax roll. The park's residents recently got some support from the town council, which passed a resolution opposing the eviction without evidence of available comparable housing, and also opposed future attempts by the tribe to de-annex land from Davie. "It sends a very loud message that we are putting ourselves on the record," said Taylor-Prakelt of the resolution that is meant to reflect the town's opinion but has no legal weight. Mayor Tom Truex said the resolution's main purpose was to ask the tribe to help residents leave with more than the minimum required by law. "It means that we want to do what we can to assist them," he said. "It's a tough situation." The Seminole tribe first offered to pay residents $1,375 for a singlewide and $2,750 for a doublewide mobile home, the minimum required by Florida statute. Last month, the tribe offered residents double that amount if they left by August. The Seminoles will also forgive the 14 outstanding mortgages they assumed when they purchased the property if residents keep their rent and mortgage payments current until they move. But neither plan provides the displaced residents with comparable housing, said Taylor-Prakelt. She said she and acting town administrator Ken Cohen plan to meet with the tribe in the coming months. "I feel confident they will come back with an adequate plan," she said. Adrianna C. Rodriguez can be reached at acrodriguez@sun-sentinel.com or 954- 385-7916 . Copyright (c) 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Visit Sun-Sentinel.com
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