The community, which was built in the 1950s, was inherited by the present owner from her grandmother, and an offer for the five-ace community is part of the real estate listing. A resident who spoke with the owner, Elizabeth Keeter, was told she had no intention of causing anyone to lose their home, although the listing allegedly included the phrase “future development potential.”
Listed at $10 million, residents have leases that run through 2030, giving them an evident false sense of security.
Many of them are on fixed incomes and are concerned that a new owner would raise the rents beyond their ability to pay.
While much of Santa Barbara’s city code has not been updated since the 1980s, City Attorney Ariel Calonne, noting some cities have closure ordinances that provide for relocation assistance, said he would have to research the code to determine if there are any protections for the residents if the community closes. ##
(Photo credit: MHVillage–The Grove manufactured home community, Modesto, CA)
