In a hotly contested property rights versus residents rights case, originally covered by the Daily Business News in September, and then again in December, the five-year journey for residents of the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in Palo Alto, California has come to a favorable end for all parties.

In a case that received national attention, the community, which was the last manufactured home community, and one of the last affordable housing options in the Silicon Valley city, was moving towards closure, as owner Tim Jisser had filed documents with the city to do so.

On Thursday, Buena Vista residents received word that a deal had been reached to keep the community, and its residents, in place

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the deal will place the 4.5-acre community’s property in the hands of the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County, which partnered with Santa Clara County and the city of Palo Alto to make a $40 million offer to the Jisser family.

Residents, who were concerned about having to relocate in an area where rents can reach $4000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, were concerned that they would end up having to move far away from the city because they could not afford the cost of living.

“I didn’t know how or where I would have moved his family, including my 7-month-old son,” said resident Henry Ayala.

“It’s good to hear that we can stay. Anywhere that’s affordable is going to be in the valley, Modesto, Tracy [40 to 50 miles] — too far away.”

Previously, the Jisser family had turned down a $36 million offer for the property.

“We are pleased we reached this settlement,” the family said in a statement.

“(The settlement) will enable the families to stay here and also allow the housing authority to pursue the park’s renovation and upgrade.”

Joe Simitian, a Santa Clara County Supervisor, had long worked to save the community and was very pleased with the outcome.

“This is a great, great day. The agreement preserves more than 100 units of desperately needed affordable housing, prevents evictions of low-income residents and gives the property owner a fair shake,” said Simitian.

“At one level, this was a test… a test of whether or not our region remains a place of inclusivity and opportunity. In this instance, at least, I’m gratified to say we passed the test.”

Simitian said that negotiations over the value of the property took about four months, and the settlement avoided a much more difficult course of action.

“It is important to note that the $40 million obviated the need for eminent domain,” said Simitian. “And now we have results sooner rather than later.”

Resident Rose Rocha, who says she plans to retire in the community, feels that the settlement is a blessing for many.

“It’s been a long struggle for everybody,” said Rocha.

“A lot of people who live here, work here: Stanford, the schools. And many are barely making it, struggling to make payments. I know I’ve donated to families to help out now and then.”

 

MH Industry Professional Speak

 

“As communities become surrounded and engulfed by restaurants, Hilton Hotels, stadiums, big box stores, airports, residential and commercial developments,” Jay Hamilton, Georgia Manufactured Housing Associations’ executive director told MHProNews, “property taxes begin exceeding the total revenue from renting spaces.”

The struggle over community owner’s property rights vs. land-lease community resident rights continues. Equity LifeStyle Communities Chairman Sam Zell’s view, published exclusively on MHProNews on that topic, are linked here.

In commenting on such cases, ROC USA President Paul Bradley told MHProNews, “How can we promote homeownership and sell new homes on leased land and at the same time close communities? It’s like selling tickets to a zoo where ‘only 1 in a 100 are eaten by the lions!’

Bradley believes that the community sector should identify those communities that may be subject to closure and redevelopment, and differentiate them between those land-lease locations that have no plans to be anything but a manufactured home community; see his statement, linked here. ##

 

(Image credits are as shown above, and when provided by third parties, are shared under fair use guidelines.)

 

Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.

 

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