Sun-Sentinel 10/21/2007

We would like to thank Lisa J. Huriash for reporting on this man made disaster.

--------------------
Project delay means mobile home park residents can stay Current residents can stay
--------------------

By Lisa J. Huriash

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

October 21, 2007

Residents of Village Park Mobile Home Estates, which has about 300 units east of State Road 7 and south of Prospect Road, were told earlier this year they had until December to vacate. Now, the 30 residents still there — some are owners but most are renters — were told they have a reprieve for a few years until construction starts, park management said.

"Why would you build something you can't sell?" park manager Rick Carter said, adding that other mobile homes damaged by Hurricane Wilma two years ago will be repaired so they can be rented.

John Mijares, vice president of land acquisition and entitlements for United Homes International, which will build the development, said it will be a minimum of two years before construction could begin.

"Due to the current market conditions, we don't have any specific period of time," Mijares said. "We don't know if it will be within the next couple years or four to five years. We don't have any idea. But it will be a minimum of two years."

The commission gave final approval to the land-use change for Marbella, a project of 550 townhouses and condos. More steps are needed before groundbreaking, including site plan approvals, rezoning, developer's agreements and permits.

"The existing mobile home park ... is at the end of its useful economic life and is no longer the highest and best use for the land," Gerald Knight, attorney for United Homes, wrote in a letter to city staff. "Existing mobile home parks have been severely damaged by recent hurricanes ... The proposed development ... will substantially enhance the character of the community ... [and] provide a new housing opportunity in a moderate price range for the growing population of the city."

But the change for homeowners has been rough.

Teddy Indyk, former executive vice president for the Village Park Homeowners Association, said his neighbors were booted out. He's frustrated that it turns out he could have stayed longer, and upset he lost money on his home.

"I put a lot of money into my house: a new wood roof with shingles, vinyl-sided the house; I put $11,000 into it after the hurricane," he said. "Then we get a notice we had to move."

Indyk has since moved to a mobile home park community in Margate. He had to buy a new home since his one in North Lauderdale was too old to move. He said he received a few thousand dollars in reimbursement.

"I had to put my hands in my pocket again," he said. "I had to buy another home. I had $26,000 in my home in Village Park and I lost that, plus a moving man and getting the other house ready. Then they forced everyone out and now are turning their homes into rental homes. I don't think that's right."

City commissioners on Oct. 9 also approved a land-use change to build Granada, which will feature about 220 garden apartments and up to 10,000 square feet of commercial space. The site, now vacant land, is on the east side of State Road 7, north of Florida's Turnpike. That project also is being developed by United Homes.

"That project is also on hold. If the market does a big turnaround in one year, we could be [starting] in one year," Mijares said.

The closing of mobile home parks to pave way for larger developments has become commonplace, and many blame Hurricane Wilma's wrath for the change.

In Margate, commissioners recently approved rezoning so Aztec Estates would become a 707-unit development of condos, townhouses and single-family homes. And permits are pending for 412 townhouses at the former Rancho Margate mobile home park.

Wilma was blamed for the closing of the Sunshine City mobile home park in Plantation, too. Plans submitted to Plantation City Hall this summer call for the 43-acre site to be rezoned to multi-family residential to accommodate 224 townhouses and 257 apartments. The Planning & Zoning Board approved the Alexan Plantation project Sept. 4 and it will now be forwarded to the City Council.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2008.

Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

COMMENTS Showing posts 1 - 4 of 4

Mitch Chester Miami, FL Reply » |Report Abuse |#1 Sunday Oct 21

For more on mobile home displacement, please see http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com

marc weitzman AOL Reply » |Report Abuse |#2 Sunday Oct 21

These people need to understand that unless you on the land YOU are a renter. If the park wants to close it can. Haven't you heard of proeperty rights?

henry Little Falls, NJ Reply » |Report Abuse |#3 Sunday Oct 21

It one thing that the property owners want to close the parks. But it all comes down to the mighty dollar. The owners are selling the parks for a large profit, and the owners of the houses are losing everything they have put into them over the years. The land owners have made a profit over the years from the rent the home owners have paid. And now the home owners have to walk away and be paid peanuts,$1375 for the unit they live in. Why is it that the property owners or the developer buying the property are not being made to pay atleast the tax value of the home. The home owner would atleast get something for the home they have put their heart, sole, and hard earned money into. AND TO ADD INSULT TO THE SITUATION, THE MARKET HAS DROPPED OUT AND THE HOME OWNERS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED, MADE HOMELESS, FOR NOTHING. MANY MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE SITTING EMPTY. THE DEVELOPERS DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD WHAT THEY WANT BECAUSE THE BANKS ARE PULLING THE PLUG ON THEM. THERE ARE PARKS ALL OVER FLORIDA THAT PEOPLE WERE THROWN OUT OF IN 2004 AND 2005 AND THAT PROPERTY IS SITTING THERE EMPTY. DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY AT ALL.

Robert Perkis Delray Beach, FL Reply » |Report Abuse |#4 Monday Oct 22

marc weitzman wrote: These people need to understand that unless you on the land YOU are a renter. If the park wants to close it can. Haven't you heard of proeperty rights? The apartment dweller has no stake in the property. No matter how long you rent an apartment, when you move out everything goes with you.

When you buy a new mobile home you are generally required to improve the park owner's property by buying a package that includes a Florida room on a patio slab, a garage on a slab or a carport and driveway. You put in landscaping and must maintain the home both inside and out.

Unlike apartments, the maintainance of the homes by the individual home owners determines the selling power of the park to future mobile home buyers. Everything you see in a mobile home park is provided by the residents not the park owner who profits by virtue of the home owners maintaining their property.

Someday you will understand property rights are not a solid block of rights but a bundle of rights that can be bent and twisted to fit the needs of the community. Hence we have zoning, rights of way, easements, etc. When land is zoned for a mobile home park the land owner has no right of rezoning just because he thinks he'd rather build a fireworks factory or cement plant. The city has the decision whether to allow the land to be used for another purpose or to protect the housing investment of their citizens. Too bad most cities and this state are too crooked or cowardly to care about their own residents and quickly sell us out to greedy developers and their shyster lawyers. See www.corallakemhp.com

Showing posts 1 - 4 of 4

Questions, comments, or suggestions?  Send us feedback

Home, News Articles, Change Of Use, Comments, Guest Book, Statute 723, Legal Links, Coconut Creek, Paloma Lakes, The Urban Group

© COPYRIGHT 2005   Coral Lake MHP