Mobile Home Park Closing Leaves Residents in a Bind
Tenants are being told they have to leave Walden Pond Mobile Home Park by the end of July 31.
Imagine living through Tropical Storm Debby in a mobile home park that suffered flooding and then being told after the storm that the park is going to close and you have to move out in a matter of weeks.
Lara Curtis doesn’t have to imagine.
She lives with five children and her husband in a rented trailer in New Port Richey's Walden Pond Mobile Home Park, which is west of U.S. 19. She learned following the storm that the park was closing, and she would need to leave.
“(We were) not given any warning, any time,” she said. “We’re trying to recuperate from being in a disaster.”
The owners of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park sent out a letter dated July 6 to Curtis and other residents that says the park is going to close down, effective July 31. The letterhead reads Walden Pond, LLC, which is a limited liability company that in 2005 bought the deed to the 8.23-acre Walden Pond Mobile Home Park property, according to the Pasco County Property Appraiser's website.
Curtis' letter says she has to vacate the park by 11:59 p.m. July 31. The letter says her lease will terminate at that time. If she is still occupying the property on Aug. 1, the property owner will seek “action for recovery.”
The closure is “due to decreased occupancy at the park and ongoing issues with certain utilities,” according to the letters sent out.
Paul Beraquit says he is managing partner of Walden Pond, LLC. Walden Pond, LLC is registered to Paragon Capital Partners, LLC, according to the Florida Div. of Corporations website. Walden Pond, LLC, is listed as being managed by Paragon Real Estate Holdings. Beraquit is named as the founder and president of Paragon Capital Partners on the company website.
Beraquit confirmed Walden Park's impending closing. He said the letter sent to tenants was drafted by his attorney.
Walden’s closure is “just economics," he said. “We have no income coming in.”
Walden Pond has about 93 lots; roughly 35 of them are occupied, he said.
Beraquit said he can’t maintain the park any more.
Tropical Storm Debby was one of the driving forces behind the decision to close, he said. Nearly half the park flooded.
The letter Curtis received says she has a month-to-month verbal lease without a specific term. It says Florida statutes provide that when a tenant has a month-to-month lease, either the landlord or the tenant can terminate by giving written notice at least 15 days in advance.
“I believe I gave them ample time,” Beraquit said.
If Curtis fails to vacate by the end of July 31, she will be deemed a holdover tenant, and Walden Pond will proceed to take legal action, the letter warned.
“Your compliance with the foregoing demand for possession is not voluntary, and all of your property and belongings must be removed by the end of this month,” the letter said.
Beraquit says he does not know what action he will take if there are still people on the property Aug. 1. He intends to consult with his attorney.
He does plan to turn off water to the park sometime after the July 31 deadline, but he did not provide a specific date.
“Nobody wants to throw anybody out of their homes,” he said. However, continuing to run the park is “just not practical. We just can’t afford it."
Many in the park are on fixed incomes. Some own their trailers. Some of those trailers are at least 10 years old. Assorted residents say they don’t have the money for security deposits for new places. Curtis says there are about 40 families in the park.
Curtis has one of the few phones in the park, she says, and has been letting her neighbors use it.
"There's just so many here that live month-to-month, paycheck-to-paycheck," she said.
Liz Nichols, code enforcement officer for the New Port Richey Police Department, is aware of the announcement of the park’s closing and has been in contact with Beraquit. There are active violations and code enforcement issues there, she said.
Nichols hasn't seen any letter from the court that is required for eviction, just the letter from the business telling residents about the closing.
Nichols is waiting to see what happens after the July 31 deadline.
“I have a feeling there’s going to be people there after July 31," she said.
Keep track of what's happening at Walden Pond with this record of continuing coverage:
Walden Pond Owners Given Chance to Clean Up Property
City Could Raze Crumbling Trailers at Walden Pond
Collapsing Trailers Raise Safety Concerns at Walden Pond
Dumpster Removal at Walden Pond Raises Concerns
Pasco Seeks to Connect Walden Pond Tenants with Aid
Residents Continue to Occupy Walden Pond After Closing Deadline
Pasco Exploring Ways to Help Walden Pond Tenants
Tenants Oppose Removal from Walden Pond
Gerald Foster
7:28 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The owner didn't mention "maintenance". He said it was economics. It sucks for anyone to have to move against their will but put yourself in the owners position. They are paying a note on 8 plus acres and only one third of the place is occupied. Obviously if they where making a profit they would keep the park going.
Alex Tiegen
8:18 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Just to clarify, this comment was left in response to another comment that was deleted due to violation of our terms of Use. In part, the deleted comment says: "If its a matter of "maintenence" the tenants should be allowed to occupy the units as long as their rent is paid, I think. People who havent paid their mortgages in months have been known to occupy said houses for up to two years."
Dwan
2:10 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The problem is not them closing it it is the way they are handling it and trying to not do this legal and they knew they were closing this place down a few months back and they also knew that they was not keeping up with the repair and they kept hiring managers that was known felony and bully the people around to the point one of the manager hooked up a trailer one night and tried to pull it away with people in it also if a person was behind on the rent they turned off the water instead of taking them to court and again the term said verbal lease where this is a written lease also the term they gave was wrong codes to evict someone and also they knew all of this ahead of time the problem is not really moving as much as the way it is being handle
Angie Staenglen
7:03 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
Well maybe if the "Owner" was NOT a SLUM-LORD he could of kept his property up and maintained. It's very obvious that this man didn't EVER know what the hell he was doing being a Land Lord, that's the BOTTOM LINE !!!
Alex Tiegen
7:29 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Christine, Thank you for your comment, but profanity violates our terms of use. Please feel free to comment again so long as it complies with our TOU. http://newportrichey.patch.com/terms
vincent gimble
8:24 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Just one more chapter in the continuing book on the divide between rich and poor in Florida and as the chapters written before this like all chapters written after this it will be the same result, the same outcome- the poor stand no chance of winning. The poor must sit there like children and not be heard for the rich know better. I will bet a good deal of money that in the not to distant future billboards will be put up on all main roads into Florida stating "if you are poor turn back. Florida does not want you & you stand no chance being here. Go to Kentucky or Mississippi"
Hugh G. Rection
9:28 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Really? I wonder how many of the "poor" here are paying rent, or are current with their rent? Also, I wonder how many actually work. My guess is very few, if any.
cindy
8:59 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I understand the economics of having to close the park down, but the owner could have given them more warning. You don't realize in just one month that you can't afford to maintain the property any longer, I'm quite sure they have known for awhile. Also, maybe a better upkeep of the property would have brought in additional renters so the owners had more revenue.
Mark
9:39 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I wouldn't move just yet! The owner may have an offer to sell or alternative motive to remove you. What I would do is produce any contracts or payment of rent stubs. Plus go to local court house an file squatter rights of occupancy for as little as $16. If there is 40 family's that is about 150 or more people flex your muscle an weight an take what is rightfully yours legally!
Right Here
10:37 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
"take what's rightfully yours legally!"
And by "leagally yours" you're talking about property that belongs to someone else?
Welcome to Obamas Amerika!
BlFalconskeep
1:27 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Its an idea, the squatter's rights clause, but truthfully, the people here just want a little more time and those that bought thier trailers want help moving them. The people that bought their trailers need help in moving them since this was a "get out in less than 30 days" letter. One woman just signed her year lease in January and bought the trailer from the owner of the park here. He knew he was probably going to close us down. There are laws against that sort of thing. Many of us dont even get money until the 1st or 3rd of the month and all the money we do have goes to pay our bills and feed ourselves. Not much left by the end of the month. Some people here haven't even received the letter we have to sign for.
Much of the problems here could have been avoided with proper maintenance, interactive/decent managers/ maintenance people.
honeyman
11:22 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I couldn't download the video. What is this 'dummie' not doing correctly?
Alex Tiegen
11:31 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Hi there, what video are you referring to?
BlFalconskeep
10:35 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
Which dummy? The owner? Please clarify. If you are referring to the owner, then he has not done proper maintenance on the park, put unqualified individuals into management and maintenance positions and is using illegal means to evict tenants. btw, there is no video.
Christine Svenningsen
2:06 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
To do a leagal eviction through the court it takes at least 2 to 3 month's, but you must follow the steps thoroughly.
Step 1.The landlord gives you an eviction.
step 2.The Deputy gives you a 5 day pack up and quit premises,
With in that 5 you go down to the Courthouse and right a paragragh why you don't think you should B evicted submit and wait for Court date.
Mean time, save the money you'd be paying rent and save it for your first and last. It takes approximately 2 months.
If your there till the end a deputy puts a 24 pack up and quit on the door and they remove you the verry next day.
Make sure you save it you 0nly get 1 chance hopefully someone down at the park sees this post.
BlFalconskeep
11:14 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Thanks Christine! I spent alot of time looking over rental laws for both houses and places with over 20 units. Those of us that are renters get what you describe. The ones that are home owners here fall under a different statute.
Either way, we are demanding legal eviction and have grounds to recieve our deposits back.
Alex Tiegen
7:19 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The following is from someone who wanted her name withheld.
I have a question, I had been living with my boyfriend for 4 years, as a couple, when he came in and told me to get the h___ out as he was moving his "new girlfriend" in. He expected me to be totally out by that evening. Needless to say, I wasn't but what followed was a nightmare. First of all I realize that Florida is not a common-law state (after the fact). But he decided to change the program and started telling everyone I was just a roommate, no intimacy involved. And if that be the case, why wouldn't I fall somewhere in this so called eviction process? Second thing is why this person can not be held accountable for the near $45,000 he conned from me? Or the fact that he put his hands on me that left finger marks on both arms? And yes, the sheriff's deputies saw them, as did my physician, the woman over the womens resource center, the people at the storage company where I went to obtain a storage unit and numerous other people? Actually what does it take in this area to get the attention and have something done about people like that? And to top it off I have a 100% disability from an accident. The sad thing is, I'm not the first one he has done that to, nor am I the last. I need some help and advice.
BlFalconskeep
10:11 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
@Hugh G. Rection
Some of the residents work and some are disabled. And yes, the rent was caught up until the day the manager and the maintenance man disappeared. Right after that the storm hit us and we recieved the letters. All of us have written leases as well, whether they own thier trailers (lease for lot rent [ several just renewed thier leases before this happened]) or rent. I just signed a new lease in May, AND MY RENT WAS CURRENT.