Park residents get together to deal with development
People who are losing their homes because manufactured home parks are being redeveloped for other types of housing are joining forces to reduce the impact on their lives.
Julie Gully lives in Four Acres, one of two parks in Coquitlam being bought by Mosaic Homes Ltd. for redevelopment, and said she has met with residents of home parks in Port Coquitlam that have also been bought for redevelopment; they want park residents in Port Moody to join them.
"Then we want to sit down with Mosaic and work out some guidelines," she said. Gully said some affected residents may be selling their homes without knowing their options.
At Monday's Coquitlam council meeting, she asked the city to help residents who will be displaced.
"We need adequate bylaws to protect all your citizens who are affected by the redevelopment of their home sites," she said.
Gully said that while provincial regulations provide some protection, they do not replace municipal obligations. "Owners and developers will be making a profit," she said. "It is not our choice to move."
She asked that the city pass bylaws that withhold redevelopment approval for manufactured home parks until every resident has been compensated or relocated. Council agreed to direct city staff to look into the concerns.
Manufactured homeowners face several problems relocating, she said: a lack of rental space in the Lower Mainland, the reluctance of home parks to rent to people with units more than five years old and the difficulty of moving them. It can cost tens of thousands to move and install manufactured homes, she said.
© Copyright 2007 The Tri-City News