Owner Phil Johnson gave the residents 45 days to raise the $6 million and purchase the community under the terms and conditions in the original offer from Continental Property Group (CPG), according to theuptake.
The deal between Johnson and CPG closed June 11, but the right of first refusal, which has never been applied to an MHC in Minnesota, was ignored by Johnson, says Jack Cann, an attorney with the Housing Justice Center of Minnesota. He says the residents have a good shot at winning the opportunity to buy the community through the courts.
The residents made a valid offer with the assistance of Aeon, a non-profit developer and owner of affordable housing in Minnesota, but Johnson and Aeon have some sticking points about signatures on the petition, the closing date, and how the offer was presented.
Alan Arthur, CEO and President of Aeon, said, “Now it’s in the hands of the attorneys and the court of law. We don’t know what that means exactly. We think we’re on the side of right and we’re going to continue to try and figure that out on behalf of the residents.”
Residents had a meeting in mid-May with Traci Thomas, the president of CPG, who told them “I don’t want to give any false hope that the park is not going to be closed.” The development will include an apartment complex.
Johnson had told the residents the 70 year-old infrastructure needs to be replaced, and that the community does not meet modern day standards.
Regardless, residents are determined to resist attempts to move them out. Said resident Luann Zappa, “We’re going to fight to save the park. I’m not leaving my home, we’re not leaving our community. They’re going to have to fight to take me down. I’ll stay in my house until the very end and so will many of the other residents here.” ##
(Photo credit: MHVillage-Lowry Grove MHC in St. Anthony, MN)
