For the past few years, the only manufactured home community in Palo Alto, California, has been the subject of discussions, controversy and publicity.  Palo Alto is awash in multimillion-dollar homes, luxury Tesla electric cars and other financial fruits from a digital revolution the city helped spark. The Silicon Valley city is home to Stanford University, at least eight billionaires, and one manufactured home community.

Now, the 50-year-old Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, one of the largest and one of the few remaining affordable housing options in Palo Alto, has been threatened with closure. The owners wanted to sell the land to a developer who planned to build luxury apartments, but now the developer has lost interest due to all the controversy. The community’s low-income, mostly Latino residents are fighting to stay in their present homes and to keep their children in one of California’s best school districts.

The San Jose Mercury News tells MHProNews that Palo Alto City Manager James Keene is setting aside $8 million in affordable housing funds to possibly help preserve Buena Vista Mobile Home Park as a source of affordable housing. In a February 19 memo to Mayor Karen Holman and the City Council, Keene said the move was spurred by community members’ concerns about the impacts of the facility’s pending closure on 400 mostly low-income Latino residents.

The council is slated in April to take up an appeal of a hearing officer’s recent ruling that the park owners put together an adequate relocation assistance package. Keene said any decision regarding the $8 million would have to be made after the council hears the appeal.

“As you are aware, the council has a responsibility to impartially evaluate all of the issues and refrain from advocating, or appearing to advocate, on any side of this matter,” Keene wrote in the memo released Friday.

“In light of these constraints on the council,” he continued, “I am directing staff to set aside $8 million in affordable housing funds specifically for use in conjunction with the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park if the council should so direct after the pending appeal has been resolved.”

The sum could be added to $8 million that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors set aside last month for the possible purchase of the manufactured home community. The county drew on an affordable housing fund established by Stanford University in exchange for permission to expand.

“It is my hope that this action — following on the county’s recent pledge of an equal amount — will inspire those who are concerned about the future of affordable housing in Silicon Valley and Palo Alto specifically, to come together and find a solution that will work for all,” Keene said. ##

(Photo Credit: San Jose Mercury News)

 

Article submitted by Sandra Lane to – Daily Business News – MHProNews.