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Article Courtesy of The
Islander
By Robert Anderson
Published May 1, 2023
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Negotiations have failed between the land owner and the homeowners in the Pines
Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach.
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A resident, who
requested anonymity, informed The Islander of the
development April 20.
Throughout the negotiations over the sale of the bayfront
mobile home park at 103 Church Ave., residents have been
instructed by attorneys not to publicly discuss matters.
The partnership, with Richard and William Jackson as
officers, listed the park for sale Jan. 25 for $16 million.
As required by state law, they first offered the park to the
HOA members for purchase.
The Florida Mobile Home Act requires a park owner to give 45
days’ notice of an intent to sell to unit owners, and gives
homeowners the first right of refusal.
On Feb. 24, Pines Trailer Park homeowners voted to form a
cooperative to rally for the purchase of the land.
A co-op is a nonprofit owned by the
homeowners for the benefit of the residents when the park’s
land is purchased by the homeowners from the original
ownership. The land transitions from a land-lease company to
the nonprofit and owners become shareholders in the
property. |
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The Pines Trailer Park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton
Beach, where the homeowner’s association was negotiating to buy the
land from Jackson Partnership of Bradenton.
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A
co-op is a nonprofit owned by the homeowners for the benefit of the residents
when the park’s land is purchased by the homeowners from the original ownership.
The land transitions from a land-lease company to the nonprofit and owners
become shareholders in the property.
“The bottom line is that the park could not come up with enough money. So as of
the 21st, it will be on the open market, so anyone out there can buy it,” one
resident told The Islander.
The resident said there are a lot of rumors circulating in the park about
potential buyers and people there are concerned about their future.
“We do not have an alternate plan,” the resident said. “We want a place down
here because we love it. Just like everyone in the park.
“There’s people, this is their only home and they don’t have the finances to buy
anyplace else.”
The resident also lamented the possible loss of an island landmark.
The park, on the north side of Bridge Street, dates to the 1930s, when it was a
campground for families, some part of the Ringling traveling circus.
“It’s horrible for the island,” the resident said. “Progress is coming, you
can’t stop it. Money always wins. The people who don’t have much money, if they
are in a nice location always get pushed out.”
A second person who also requested anonymity confirmed the HOA deal to buy the
park had failed.
Other residents in the park confirmed the asking price for the park went up
after the partnership refused the Pines’ HOA initial offer on March 15. The
partnership’s asking price then became $16.25 million.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page and a Give Send Go page were created to raise money
for the HOA’s efforts, according to their organizers.
The GoFundMe page, Save Our Old Florida Home, was created March 29. Gay Gavde-Forte
of Cincinnati is identified as the page organizer.
Suzanne Hynes is identified as the creator of the Givesendgo page.
As of April 21, the GoFundMe campaign had raised $2,015 of a $1 million goal and
the Givesendgo page had raised $1,227.
A listing for the 2.785-acre park, which abuts the Historic Bridge Street Pier,
is on the website for Yale Realty & Capital Advisors at yaleadvisors.com.
Calls to the park ownership were not returned as of Islander press time.
HOA president Steve Scharnweber did not respond to an April 17 Islander call as
of press time.
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