Mission Trails Mobile Home Park in San Antonio, Texas may be closed to make way for a $75 million luxury riverfront apartment development, displacing some 200 residents who complain they discovered by accident about the possible sale and rezoning of their community when a resident happened to spot a rezoning notice posted on the property and promptly called the city. That happened three days before the issue appeared on the zoning commission agenda. Landlord American Family Communities is seeking to rezone the property for commercial and multifamily use, according to sacurrent.com. Under Texas law, the city is required to notify the landowner of a zoning change, not residents.

Since the issue was brought to the community’s attention, resulting in many advocates attending city council and zoning meetings on behalf of the residents, the zoning commission denied the motion March 18, by a 5-2 vote. Following a city council meeting April 17 attended by scores of residents, the council decided to put off a final vote until May 15, MHProNews.com has learned. The developer has agreed to subsidize moving expenses and hookup fees when transitioning residents to other manufactured housing communities and will provide $2,000 to residents with homes too dilapidated to relocate. While there is talk among the residents of buying the property cooperatively, many feel the developers will win out. ##

(Photo credit: Mary Tuma/sacurrent.com–Mission Hills Mobile Home Park, San Antonio)