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The task: raising $56.7M in 45 days

If residents of three mobile home parks gather enough cash to match a purchase offer, they might be able to buy the properties.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published May 16, 2006

The two, who are on tight budgets, thought they'd save money by living together in a single-wide in the Four Seasons Estates Mobile Home Park.

But their view of the future changed two weeks ago, when park residents got a letter from homeowners association president Dan Gregorio.

Someone made a $56.7-million offer on their mobile home park and two others, the letter said.

"A couple months ago, I found out my cancer's back. I don't need this," said Lyons, 57.

If park residents can come up with the money, which will likely be tens of thousands of dollars each, they'll have a chance to buy the parks. Florida law gives residents an opportunity to match a purchase offer, but residents at all three parks have just 45 days to do so.

In this case, all three parks - Four Seasons, neighboring Pointe West, and Club Wildwood in Hudson - must be purchased as a bundle. Records show that all are owned by Howard Gottlieb of Winnetka, Ill., who could not be reached for comment. Four Seasons and Pointe West are near Largo Mall.

Gregorio, 74, said Monday that he does not know who the prospective buyer is.

Jenkins, 58, said he's going to try to buy a share of the parks, but he's not sure he can afford it.

"I don't think it's right that people can come in and buy your lives when we've been paying taxes our whole lives," Jenkins said.

The parks are polling residents to see who wants to buy, in order to calculate how much each person would have to pay, Gregorio said.

In recent years, more and more mobile home parks have been targeted by developers looking for land to build condominiums or townhomes.

"We figured it would be a matter of time," said Maureen Miller, 70.

Miller and her husband, John, 82, have lived at Four Seasons since 1985 and said they will try to buy a share.

John Vrana, 58, who lives in Pointe West, said he would purchase too, because he feels he has little choice.

"Affordable housing is a thing of the past. Where are you going to live for $500 or $600 a month?" he said.

Homeowners association officers were informed of the offer May 3.

Gregorio questioned the timing, especially since a number of residents don't live at the parks year round.

"It always appears they spring these things on these residents when the majority have gone home," Gregorio said by phone. He had already returned to Clarence, N.Y., for the summer. He is planning to fly back soon to help with the deal.

Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com.

[Last modified May 16, 2006, 06:25:25]