Residents fear days at 'park' numbered

MILLCREEK — It's a street where everybody knows everyone else.

The neighbors are more like siblings, complete with a family dog that protects and loves everyone on the block.

It's a place where visitors are greeted by neatly trimmed green grass in front of every home.

Residents say Park Hill Mobile Home Estates isn't a typical trailer park. They point to its low crime rate — only three minor reported crimes in 30 years.

Soon the serenity at Park Hill could come to a crashing halt. Developers want to raze the place and build condominiums, leaving more than 2 dozen senior citizens and people with disabilities without a place to go.

"This is not a trailer park, it's a community," said Virginia Martinez, an activist from the Salt Lake Community Action Program. "I've never seen such camaraderie, great camaraderie."

Residents have until Sept. 1 to move out, trailers and all. A condominium complex with 56 units will replace the mobile park, with construction slated to begin in September.

According to a letter sent to residents dated May 28, Park Hill owners will pay up to $1,500 in relocation expenses if residents move both their homes and personal property before Aug. 1.

"If your mobile homes and personal property have not been removed by this date, the park owners may elect to treat your presence as an unlawful detainer, and seek both your removal and treble rent for each day you continue to occupy the space," the letter states.

Attempts to reach the developers were unsuccessful.

The $1,500 relocation offer won't help much, said Park Hill resident Tamara Peterson. "It gets us out on the street, and that's it."

Moving a trailer is complicated, and costs can run to nearly $17,000, Peterson said. A double-wide mobile home must be split in half and leveled before hitting the road. Once moved, a resident must buy new skirting, decking, carports and awnings. Some trailers collapse during transport.

Minnie Yardley moved into Park Hill in February, but only after the owner promised the property wouldn't sell. She spent thousands of dollars renovating her home and is low on cash since a recent accident.

"This is my home," Yardley said. "I don't have any money; I can't move."

Park Hill invited local politicians and residents to a community barbecue Wednesday night to raise awareness about the neighborhood's woes. Letting residents buy the property their mobile homes sit on would be the best solution, Martinez said.

If that is not possible, developers should work hard to find better options for these stranded residents, she said. So far, all the developers have done is send a letter that lists phone numbers of other local mobile-home parks, Martinez said.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com