In an update to a story the Daily Business News has covered over the last few months, residents at the East End Mobile Home Park in Manassas, Virginia, have been given a reprieve from eviction, which was due to take place at the end of the month.
According to Inside Nova, families in the community will now get to stay in their homes until at least mid-June, giving a nonprofit who has an interest in buying the property more time to structure a deal with its owner.
The city is currently set to purchase East End for $1.86 million from a trust controlled by Helen Loretta Clarke, who residents claim has neglected the community’s sewage system to the point that unless residents took action themselves, sewage came up into their yards.
After the residents received a reprieve in early February to hold off the evictions, Jon Francis, the attorney representing the residents, was scheduled to square off with Clarke’s attorneys in court on March 24 in a hearing to determine if Clarke is responsible for the property’s condition.
Both sides asked for a delay of that proceeding, and retired District Court Judge Peter Steketee granted that request.
“We’ve managed to hammer out the framework of a settlement agreement with the owner’s attorneys,” said Francis.
“On June 16th, we’ll reconvene for a status hearing on the case.”
What Francis and many residents are hoping for is a lifeline in the timeframe from Catholics for Housing, a Dumfries nonprofit.
The organization is working to reach a formal agreement to buy the property with Clarke and her trustee, Timothy Cope.
The nonprofit submitted a bid on the community earlier this month, and if it can hammer out a deal with Cope, they can ask the Manassas City Council to take a vote on backing away from the sale.
City officials have stressed that anyone interested in buying East End will need to have the funds to repair the park sewer system. That process alone could cost up to $1.5 million.
“Catholics for Housing could get financial assistance on that front through the legal process,” said Francis.
“While nothing is final yet, part of the settlement with the property owner’s attorneys could include an agreement to send some of the money held in escrow to Catholics for Housing to assist with repairs to the park [sic].”
“It would be up to the judge, but it also depends on whether they want that money or not,” said Francis.
Catholics for Housing has not commented on their interest level in the community so far, outside of a letter to the city council earlier this month reiterating that it’s still investigating the situation.
The Daily Business News will continue to follow this story and provide updates. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
