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58 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 5, 2004 Residents have year to vacate trailer park By SCOTT SMITH Mail Tribune Six years after the city approved the Rogue Valley Manor’s plans to convert a mobile home park into a mixed-use commercial development, residents of the park got the news: It’s almost time to pack up and move out. For Crest Imperial Mobile Estates residents, some of whom retired to the park with older mobile homes that are difficult or impossible to move because of their age or size, it’s the end of years of wondering. But it’s also the beginning of trying to figure out where they will go. They have a year to work it out. "It’s just heart-breaking for my wife because she’s been here a long time," said Glenn Van Daam, 70, who married 29-year park resident Helen Schaffran, 71, two years ago. Van Daam said his wife hasn’t been able to find a park that will take her older mobile home. If they can’t find someone to buy it, the couple may have to consider paying to have it removed as junk. Mobile homes occupy 45 spaces at the park at 1090 Ellendale Drive, said Sarah Prewitt, public relations director for the Manor and Crest Park Inc., the park’s legal owner. Spaces vacated since 1995 have been converted for RV use renting for $335 per month, Prewitt said. Mobile home spaces rent for $285 per month. Advertisement Residents like Van Daam and Schaffran who lived in the park prior to the planned-unit development’s approval will be eligible for $2,000 in moving assistance. Prewitt said 20 tenants qualify, if, among other requirements, their mobile homes are removed from the park. It was unclear Thursday just how much that might cost, with estimates ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. Prewitt said some companies might pay to salvage materials from mobile homes if they can’t be moved. The Manor purchased the 6.37-acre park in 1995 and the city approved a planned-unit development late in 1998. Though he and his wife knew it was likely to happen sometime, Van Daam said the news hit pretty hard. "We have no plan," Van Daam said. "We just heard about it this (Thursday) morning. We knew this might happen, but what we don’t understand is how a big outfit like that can just run you off." Manor representatives met with about 25 of the park’s residents Wednesday night, said Prewitt, adding that the meeting "went very well." She said some residents were thankful for the help the Manor is offering. "We’ve been encouraging tenants to research other options for the last six years," she said. "They knew it was coming ... and they are at this point glad to have a firm date and happy to have help and know what they need to do." In addition to providing a packet of information on rentals and available assistance, the Manor has arranged for ACCESS Inc. to meet with residents Tuesday to answer questions and get them connected to available assistance. "We want to make this as easy as it can be," Prewitt said. The Manor also will make community housing specialists available to help tenants. Appointments can be made by calling Reva Lohr at 857-7970. Reach Assistant City Editor Scott Smith at 776-4464, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities