NCTimes reports that the proposal to consider selling city owned Laguna Vista Mobile Home Park in Oceanside, CA has died. The Financing Authority in February voted 4-0 to instruct city staffers to explore the idea of selling the manufactured home community. The city panel that oversees the land lease community’s financing were deadlocked on the proposal. City Councilmen Jerry Kern, Gary Felien and Jack Feller, sitting as members of the Oceanside Mobile Home Park Financing Authority, wanted to call for proposals from private investors, park residents or nonprofit agencies to buy the park at 276 N. El Camino Real. The plan was blocked by Mayor Jim Wood, Councilwoman Esther Sanchez and Frances Thoene, the park residents’ representative on the authority, who voted against it. Authority member Bob Neal was absent. “I think it’s wise that we keep it.” Wood said. Mayor Wood said “the timing is terrible” due to the economy and housing prices. Sanchez said “This is not a financial burden to the city.” Kern said the city should not own the community and should at least ask for proposals for purchasing it. Kern believes park residents could create a nonprofit organization of their own to buy the location. “That’s probably the best long-term solution,” Kern said. Alternatives Kern favors are a non-profit or finally a private firm purchasing the community. Laguna Vista is run by Haven Management, under contract to the city. The land belongs to the Ishi Family Trust which the city has a long-term lease on through 2052. Larry Ishi, who is a non-voting member of the Financing Authority, said his family has had “a very nice relationship” with the city. “We certainly would have no objection if it went on but the city has to make the best business decision, we understand that,” Ishi told authority members.
