San Jose, California – The closure of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park draws closer. Given the impact on 400 low income residents, Santa Clara County supervisors voted Tuesday to offer $6.5 million tied to a similar commitment from the city of Palo Alto, CA.
“Time is of the essence,” said Supervisor Joe Simitian was quoted in a report in the Mercury News by Eric Kurhi. “On any given day the owner is within legal rights to accept an offer and send notice to residents.”
Santa Clara County’s offer comes from a development fund at Stanford University. Officials said it is a match to save the 120-home park as affordable housing. The Buena Vista MH community takes up 4.5 acres of valuable real estate at El Camino Real and Los Robles Avenue.
Melissa Morris, An attorney with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Mellisa Morris represents residents, said “If the park closes, they will be exiled from the community.”
The missing item is approval of matching funds by the Palo Alto City Council. That might be boosted by Caritas Corporation, a manufactured home community operator which is working with the county.
Supervisor Simitian explained that Caritas might secure bonds adding $10 million to the total effort, “the hope and expectation is that if a funding gap remains we will look to philanthropic and/or corporate sources for assistance.”
“Whether or not they’d (the sellers) choose to accept the offer, I can’t really say,” Attorney Margaret Nanda stated. “Let’s see what Palo Alto does and stay tuned.” For an previous MHProNews Daily Business News story on this drama, click here. ##
(Photo credit: Mercury News)
