It is the kind of report that is troubling to white hat operators in the manufactured housing industry.
It is the type of negative media coverage that arguably undermines the image of living in a land-lease community, and by inference, in pondering some manufactured home options.
The screen capture below provides a sense of the news coverage that has already been stirred by a variety of local and regional news media. But with weeks to go, are serious industry observers going to be surprised if this stirs up even more vexing news reports that spotlight residents reportedly “up in arms” – and understandably concerned about their futures?
One of those mainstream videos is the one from WISH TV, posted below.
The Indy Channel filed the following video news report.
The videos make it clear that several of the homes are pre-HUD Code mobile homes. It would therefor not be surprising if this property dates back to before June 15, 1976.
WTHR had a video without an embed code, and the portions of their report includes the following information and pull-quotes.
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Dozens who live in a west side mobile home park say they are angry and want help after being forced to pack up and move out within sixty days.
Residents living at the I-70 Mobile Home Park showed Eyewitness News a letter claiming to be from the owners that said, “We are facing $100,000 to put in a whole new (sewer) system. Money we do not have. The problem has forced us to close the mobile home park.”
“…Most of this complex is elderly, disabled, veterans, single parents,” said Tonia Clark, resident. “The people who can’t afford to be uprooted like this.”
State Representative Justin Moed stated that along with the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office, they will host a meeting next week for residents to go over getting financial assistance, legal aid, and other help.
“I think a lot of people are frustrated by the lack of notice, the lack of information,” said State Representative Justin Moed, (D) District 97.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, September 3 from 2 – 7 p.m. at the United Steel Workers Hall, 218 S. Addison Street. The event is hosted by the Mayor’s Office, State Rep. Moed, Wayne Township Trustee Chuck Jones, and Kristin Jones.
Eyewitness News said that Citizens Energy made a statement that “Citizens has not mandated the connection, so this appears to be a decision made by the owner.”
While it has not yet been mentioned in the media reports shown, one wonders if the property owner is planning on selling the underlying real estate following the closure of the community.
This is arguably the type of behavior that ‘white hat’ manufactured home community operators ought to publicly denounced. Is this one more reason for the formation of a ‘white hat,’ post-production trade group for manufactured home professionals?
Litigation by angry, frustrated residents sounds possible. Stay tuned.
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Soheyla is a managing member of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn here and here.
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