IBerkshires reports the town of Williamstown, Mass. has applied for a $6.25 million Hazard Mitigation Grant to buy out Spruces Mobile Home Park, pay MHC owner Morgan Management $600,000, and remove the infrastructure so no one could live there. Bordering the Hoosic River, the area was hit hard by flooding resulting from Tropical Storm Irene, and town officials and some residents say the 118 acres is prone to flooding. Morgan intends to close the community if the grant does not come through. Some residents say the problem is drainage improperly installed by Morgan, that certain elements in the city have long wanted to close the MHC, and a group of residents are considering turning the community into a cooperative. MHProNews has learned the public works director says the Hoosic River is the problem, because when it rises above a certain height, it covers the stormwater runoff pipe from the community. The town intends to build affordable housing elsewhere in the city.
