marvy marv talking about a non-profit taking over its 4th mobile home park in Lancaster. Thing is, Lancaster owns more than 33 million in city real estate. Went on a buying spree just before the market bottomed out. You would think he would address the 100+ single resident homes the city has bought and sat on for more than 5 years. Why doesnt he know how many other parks the city owns? Wonder if thats one reason Lancasters credit rating is in the trash? Anyway, this park is supposed to be one of Lancasters answers to low income housing needs. Isnt that the pot of gold rex dipped into to build the apts in the blvd area? Low income housing funds? ==================================== Vice Mayor Marvin Crist said Caritas helps the city because it frees up resources - manpower, liability and finances. Mobile home parks should be in private hands, Crist said. I dont think were in the real estate business. Crist said the city had the property appraised to determine the value. The city has more mobile home parks it intends to sell, but Crist said he did not know the number. ========================================== The nonprofit owns and operates 20 such parks throughout California, in Fresno, Garden Grove, Oceano, Vacaville, Yucaipa and Yucca Valley, areas with low-income populations, the organizations website says. Mauro said Caritas spent $4 million to buy Desert Sands. Lancaster benefits from the public-private arrangement, Mauro said, because Caritas helps the city meet a government mandate to offer the marketplace a certain percentage of affordable homes. Because were a nonprofit, we dont pay income tax, and we get a reduction in our property tax. We can put that money into making better properties, Mauro said. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Residents at two of the other parks owned by Caritas shared their experiences to a reporter. A woman who lived at Friendly Village roughly 15 years said, The office is beautiful now. It really looks nice. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she wished the rest of the park looked as good as the office. Problems the park suffered with gang members have been solved, she said. A fence Caritas installed helped, she said. They do take care of the road, she added, The only thing I think this park goofed on is having one entrance. Another woman also requested anonymity. Both residents sought anonymity from fear of retaliation if they complain. The second resident lived in the park at least three decades and remembers how nice it was. Its not like it was, she said. As far as improvements promised in 1996 when Caritas took over, she said, They re-did the clubhouse. Thats the only thing I know of. She added, They coat the street every two or three years. We have security, but they dont do a lot. I called them one night, and they told me to call the sheriff. Weve got to protect ourselves. When residents take children to school, a long line of vehicles wait because of the single entrance. Visitor parking is filled with cars from people who live here. If you have visitors, theres no place for them to park, she said. On the plus side, she said, It appears criminal activity has decreased. Her financial situation keeps her at Friendly Village. I have no place else to go, she said They didnt do any major improvements, said Carl Wagner, 86, a resident of Brierwood Estates since 1977, after retiring from the Air Force. They got rid of the people that were physically managing it, said Wagner, a Vietnam veteran. To manage a place like this is not the easiest thing in the world. We have a little over 300 spaces. Most of the people who live here just dont have money. I consider myself quite fortunate. Wagner said Caritas resurfaced the streets. As far as landscaping, They trim the trees about once a year. We have a security guy that drives through at night. He makes one drive-through. We have a phone number to contact security when needed. Mauro said a guard drives through at least twice. We had a security assessment performed in Friendly Village two or three years ago, he said. The extra fencing and lights out front are examples of some of the park improvements we made.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 06:44:28 +0000
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