Transition in store for park
Housing Authority hopes for changes for mobile home owners
Friday, September 14, 2007
Steamboat Springs — After closing on its $3.2 million purchase of the Fish Creek Mobile Home Park two weeks ago, the Yampa Valley Housing Authority has turned its sights to future plans for the park.
At a meeting Thursday, the Housing Authority's board of directors appointed a subcommittee to oversee the park's operations, improvements to its railroad crossing and efforts to convert the park's lots into ownership units. Mobile home owners usually do not own the land beneath their homes, but the Housing Authority hopes to change that for Fish Creek residents.
Tom Palmer, who managed the park under previous owners Bob and Audrey Enever, will continue to manage it for the Housing Authority. Board member Nancy Stahoviak said Palmer was invited to the board meeting so members could meet him.
"He did a good job for the Enevers and there's no reason to think he won't do a good job for us," Stahoviak said.
Palmer is not paid a salary as the park's manager, but lives there rent-free. Palmer also will serve on the Housing Authority's subcommittee for the park, along with two other park residents.
"The importance of having two residents and Tom Palmer on the committee is to really work with them to come up with a plan that is embraced by a sizable majority - at least - of residents," subcommittee chairman Towny Anderson said, referring to the park's transition to ownership lots.
The Housing Authority has an obligation to the city of Steamboat Springs to work with owners to convert their lots to ownership units. That stipulation is part of a $954,000 loan the city provided - at a zero-interest rate for five years - to help fund the Housing Authority's purchase of the park. Housing Authority officials have said no one will be evicted if they decide not to convert to an ownership unit.
Anderson said mobile home park conversions have been done before.
"There are lots of precedents for this - very successful conversions," Anderson said. "We won't be reinventing the wheel."
Also at Thursday's meeting, the board ratified a $7,000 grant it received from the Colorado Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity Fund to help cover its cost of acquiring Fish Creek Mobile Home Park.
The board also discussed its continuing search for an executive director. Former director Elizabeth Black resigned in June. The Housing Authority is advertising for the position for a second time. Stahoviak said the board is waiting for applications to come in. If this round of recruiting is unsuccessful, Stahoviak said the Housing Authority may hire a search company to aid its efforts.
- To reach Brandon Gee, call 871-4210
or e-mail bgee@steamboatpilot.com
Comments
rodcarew 5 years, 9 months ago
Again, I'd be interested to know the details of how this transition will actually work. Are the trailer owners being given the opportunity to buy the land underneath for fair market value or below market value? If it's fair market value, then I have no quibbles, but it may be more than they can reasonably afford, which sort of defeats the purpose. If it's less than market value, then the community is subsidizing the transaction. I'm okay with this because I support affordable housing any way we can get it, but the last thing I'd want to see is someone getting the land at below market value now, then selling it at market value sometime in the future. If they are getting a special deal at the public's expense, I'd expect some sort of deed restriction put in place to ensure that it stays affordable over the long haul.
housepoor 5 years, 9 months ago
I agree it needs to fair market value.
Kat Kelly 5 years, 9 months ago
Curious as to if the you own the trailer and the land, why can you not have dogs? If no dogs allowed it is only fair that no cats or other pets be allowed as well.
bubba 5 years, 9 months ago
kat kelly, there are a lot of condos, covenant controlled neighborhoods, etc. that do not allow dogs, even if you do own the land. It's one of those decisions people have to make when selecting a place to live.
HP, I would disagree, if the housing authority sells these without deed restrictions, at market rate or below, then they have done nothing for affordable housing, which is, as I understand it, their purpose. Not only that-what is market rate? Have any trailer lots been sold lately to establish a comparable property price analysis? And who get's the profit from the sales? If they have a tax-subsidized interest free loan, and are going to sell the lots at market rate, than aren't they just developers/realtors with an unfair advantage vs the other developers and realtors out there?
Whether you are for or against government subsidized housing, selling these without deed restrictions would be unfair to those of us who's tax dollars are subsidizing this loan. (not to mention those who are paying the affordable housing tax on building permits)
spukomy 5 years, 9 months ago
I know that developers and private parties are funding the YVHA, but I can't find any info on tax money also funding them. I'd appreciate any help on this subject.
jack legrice 5 years, 9 months ago
Why wern't all the details worked out before the purchase? Once again rushing into the darkness. No tax money for housing. Nice to get a tax free loan.What happens to the ones who don't want to buy the lot? The city has no right to to tell someone they have to alot a certain amount of affordable housing!!! How many business owners are there that are willing to help with the problem? They are the ones who should be responsible. They need help then house them!! I am willing to pay for infrastructure housing but not private business.
Requires free registration
Posting comments requires a free account and verification.
Or login with:
OpenID