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Residents seek harbor in legal storm

Residents of a mobile home park don't want to sell to, or be evicted by, the park's owners. So they take the tussle to court.

By NICOLE JOHNSON
Published May 23, 2005

OLDSMAR - Their mobile homes may be vulnerable to hurricanes, but residents of Anchor North Bay say they're standing firm.

The park's homeowners association says its members won't accept a recent offer by the park's new owner, SAB Investors LLC, that is more than double what the state says companies must pay to relocate mobile home residents who are being evicted to make way for development.

To get the money, 100 percent of the Front Street Homeowners Association's roughly 50 members would have to agree to accept SAB's offer.

Instead, the residents in the 45-year-old park overlooking Old Tampa Bay say they are moving forward with a court case against SAB Investors LLC. The case alleges SAB has been negligent in maintaining the facilities and seeks to give the residents the right to buy the 7.8-acre property themselves.

SAB issued six-month eviction notices to park residents in March and plans to build townhomes. The company has filed a defamation suit against association president Ray Brooks for statements he's made, including comments on the association's Web site, www.frontstreetassociation.com

"Our clients are very eager to have the issues in both of these lawsuits decided by the courts as soon as possible," said SAB's attorney, Robert Boos. "We're confident our clients are correct and confident that the allegations being made against them by the opposing side are legally and factually incorrect."

Still, it appears the company, headed by Alex Sullivan, the son of Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sullivan, and Adam Schoenbaum, both 25, may be looking to avoid court if possible.

On May 13, SAB posted letters on residents' doors in Anchor North Bay that offered $4,000 and $6,000 for abandoning singlewide and doublewide mobile homes, respectively. The state requirement is $1,500 and $3,000.

"The reason for this offer is to help provide extra finances to help with the move from Anchor North Bay," the letter stated. "We feel that this offer will benefit both parties. We will not be able to offer this amount of money to the residents if we have to fight in a court of law."

The offer is good until June 3, according to the letter.

The residents' attorney, Joe Magri, said he had not seen the letter Wednesday, but called it "inappropriate because they're intending to settle the lawsuit without going through the attorney representing the homeowners."

Boos said the letter did not come from his office.

"That's a communication between clients and there is nothing improper or inappropriate about clients trying to resolve issues amongst themselves," Boos said. "It's not an attempt to settle the lawsuit."

Anchor North Bay's residents are the people who pump your gas, stock your shelves and paint your houses. Many say a mobile home is the closest thing they can get to a sense of ownership in this economy.

Most aren't ready to give it up. Since the eviction notice, about 20 of the roughly 200 residents have accepted relocation money. Others say they're holding out with the chance that they may get to purchase the park.

The property rights of mobile home residents are making headlines outside of Anchor North Bay as well. House and Senate bills seeking to increase mobile home park residents' right to buy their property were introduced during this state legislative session. Both died in committees earlier this month.

"I have seven years invested in this place. It's not the money that's an issue. My biggest issue now is my life and my children's stability," said Michelle Ward, 29, who has two daughters, Anjelica, 7, and KimberLee, 9. "It's not worth $4,000, no ma'am, it sure is not."

Small successes fuel the group's determination.

On April 29, the courts ruled the residents could begin paying their rent to an escrow account. A yard sale, pasta dinner and car wash has generated enough money to help those who can't afford to cough up $200 a month for the lawyer's fees.

A mid afternoon drive around the park reveals red, white and blue wind socks, the association's adopted symbol, fluttering from door jams and mailboxes of several mobile homes.

"It's a show of solidarity," said Brooks, dragging from a Tracker cigarette. "We're little guys, they're big money."

[Last modified May 23, 2005, 01:23:18]