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Updated 4/01
The Mapleton Home Association's long term goal is to develop with Thistle Community Housing and the City of Boulder a low and moderate income housing development which utilizes existing mobile homes at the Mapleton Mobile Home Park. In concert with the City's own plans, the MHA wishes to preserve permanently affordable housing for low and moderate income families by creating a resident owned mobile home park of low and moderate income housing. The joint goal of the MHA and the City is to increase the existing inventory of affordable housing in Boulder through this unique project.
At the December 2 meeting Cindy Pieropan from the Division of Housing and Human Services, City of Boulder, Colorado, introduced herself by telling us that she ³works on funding for low income housing² for the City. She said that if Boulder did buy the Park, their goal would be to sell it back to the residents already in the Park. She explained that Boulder had never converted a park to resident owned, but she was aware that it was a ³very time consuming and complicated process.² She told the residents gathered at this meeting that the City of Boulder has a strong commitment to seeing that our park remain a mobile home park. She also told us that grants from the City and State are available to help with the down payment, but residents must be able to act as a legal body in order to take advantage of these funds.
The newsletter keeps all residents of the park up to date on the many details of the process toward resident ownership so that they may participate fully in the cooperative efforts and decision making process of the Association. The newsletter also fosters community, informs residents about their neighbors (in a ³Meet Your Neighbor² column) and informs local City Council people and City of Boulder Staff about the activities of the MHA. The newsletter is produced by a committee of 3 MHA members, Habiba and Kabir #72 and Holly Hutchinson #50. It is distributed to all 138 units in Mapleton Park, as well as the Boulder City Council, City of Boulder Housing staff and the Boulder County staff at Boulder Community Action Programs.
June 1996
The First Issue of the Mapleton Mobile Home Park Newsletter, The Mapleton Mobile-izer, hit the porches of our homes. Over the next five years, the newsletter would be an important source of information for residents. Staff from Housing and Human Services and Thistle Community Housing would use the Mobile-izer to present columns of interest and with important information to residents. The Mapleton Mobile-izer has been an important tool in residents' efforts to organize and disseminate information.
July 1996
On July 14, 1996, the MHA held its First Annual Goose Creek Festival. This all-neighborhood, day-long event held on site at the Mapleton Mobile Home Park featured a parade, performances by musicians and dancers, who are residents of the park, a barbecue, an MHA information booth and games. The festival not only helped to build community and foster neighborhood cohesion, but provided an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors from all over the Park. The day long event informed people about the events taking place in Mapleton Park and the MHA, encouraged membership in the MHA, and educated the larger community of Boulder about the Park and the people who live in it. Our many talented residents provided entertainment for all residents ranging in age from 2 to eighty. The festival drew approximately 100 residents, as well as two Boulder City Council people and a number of local low-income housing advocates. Media representatives and local government representatives were given tours of the park. The event received coverage in several local newspapers. The Goose Creek Festival was produced by a committee of 6 MHA members.
August 1996
In August 1996 three MHA members designed and built an outdoor public notice board for posting news related to the neighborhood. Items include newspaper articles featuring park residents, MHA meeting minutes, and information from the City of Boulder about their plans for the park. The kiosk, which is colorful and attractive, is located in a common area of the park that is accessible to all. Lumber was donated by local area businesses and Park residents. The Kiosk was built by members: Alex Wilson #58, Ron Marcus #79, and Mark Reeder #14.
October 1996
On October 18, 1996, the Mapleton Home Association and the Division of Housing and Human Services met to discuss a resident buyout of Mapleton Park from the City of Boulder. Cindy Pieropan of the Housing and Human Services explained that the earliest the city would consider selling the property back to the residents would be after the Goose Creek Greenway Project has been completed through Mapleton Park. (Goose Creek is small stream that runs through the Park's northern portion. The City of Boulder has plans to create a Greenway with Pocket Parks and a bike path along this creek. The MHA has been working with City agencies to limit the impact of the Greenway on residents.)
MHA President Reeder was concerned that residents would be paying the City's mortgage now, and then paying for the Park a second time, for themselves, when the residents purchased the property back after the Goose Creek Project had been completed.
Cindy Pieropan answered that the residents' rents would go to pay off the City's mortgage with the former owner, Lu Nuttall and then after Goose Creek was completed the residents would pay only the balance of the contract plus costs the city had in renovating the park. The hypothetical situation put forth was: The residents would pay rent through the completion of the Goose Creek perhaps paying $1.5 million toward the purchase price. Then, if the city sold the park to the residents, the residents would be responsible for the balance of the note, say, $2 million.
Cindy also reaffirmed the commitment to maintain Mapleton as a mobile home community and as affordable housing for low and middle income people. Ms Pieropan went on to state that the idea of the residents and the city working toward an agreement to purchase the land and possibly the right of first refusal when the city sells the park could begin within six months after the closing.
Jann Oldham who directs the City's disbursement of grant monies within the Housing Office, stated that some monies might be available to help residents with their purchase of the park in the future.
December 1996
The Mapleton Home Association created a Resident Advisory Committee in December 1996 to work with the City of Boulder in developing plans for management of the park, park maintenance and future purchase of the park by residents from the City. The RAC has 4 members. The purpose of the RAC is to represent the interests of Mapleton Park residents and the MHA to the City of Boulder and its management company, Hast & Co. and to facilitate good communication with the City and Hast, in order to work jointly with the City in determining the direction of the resident purchase process and other park projects. By working together, the Mapleton Home Association, the City of Boulder and the Hast management team hope, not only to erect the framework for good management principles now, but to lay the groundwork for future resident ownership.
April 1997
The MHA files for Federal non-profit status. In September 1997, the MHA enters its preliminary determination period with the IRS.
June 15 - July 15, 1997
Spring Cleaning Day actually lasted one month-- from June 15 - July 15. It was a cooperative effort between the MHA, Mapleton Park residents, The City of Boulder, and Hast & Co., the Park management company. Large dumpsters were provided to carry off debris and junk within the Park. Neighbors took the initiative to upgrade the safety levels and aesthetic quality of the park neighborhood which had deteriorated over a number of years under the previous management. The Spring Cleaning Day was particularly helpful to our many elderly and disabled residents.
June 1997
On June 28, 1997 residents of Mapleton Park held their Second Annual Goose Creek Festival and Parade. The morning began with a yard sale. Many residents donated household items which were sold for the benefit of the Mapleton Home Association. During the festival in the afternoon, prizes, donated by local area businesses, were awarded to residents for best skits, posters and talent.
July 1997
At the Colorado Statewide Conference for Mobile Home Residents in Aspen, Colorado, Holly Hutchinson, MHA's Director of Information, was a key player. Holly helped to organize the conference which discussed issues that are of concern to all mobile home owners.
July 1997
In the month of July, residents and the MHA met with seven of Boulder's nine Council members who toured the Park to view the Goose Creek Greenway Improvement Project's impact. Residents, who have always supported the necessity of the project, presented their CEAP to the Council members. Council members agreed with the narrow option which disrupted the lives of only seven families by displacing their homes. Council also agreed with the idea of ³fair market value² for displaced residents homes. In addition, residents asked Council men and women about issues concerning management policy laid down by Council when the City of Boulder purchased the Park. Most members of Council stated that the ultimate outcome of the City's decision to purchase Mapleton Park was for the residents to buy it back through their homeowner's association.
August - September 1997
In August, the Park's Resident Advisory Committee began meetings with City staff to create a mutually supportive and equitable lease for residents. The result of the one month negotiations was a landmark lease with exceptional rights and safeguards for residents never seen in a mobile home park before.
July 1998
The MHA launched an Escrow Fund to be used as a down payment for purchasing the Park. The Fund was set up as a bank account in which residents deposited money earmarked for the eventual purchase of Mapleton Park from the City of Boulder. The goals are 1) to raise $150,000 by 2003; 2) involve residents in the Park purchase; and 3) to show lending institutions and granting agencies that residents squarely support the process for a resident ownership of Mapleton Park. Individuals and the mount of money they deposited were kept confidential.
August 1998
At the third Annual Goose Creek Festival, residents presented a check for $5000 to the MHA Escrow Fund.
December 1998<br> MHA volunteers went door to door to answer questions about the Escrow Fund. Also, the Mapleton Mobile-izer introduced Goose Creek Comix. A talented artist living in Mapleton Park volunteered his skills with a comic strip to highlight the benefits of resident ownership in Mapleton Park.
April 1999
A new president was Elected for the MHA. Ben Jensen, #178. s became the second chief executive of the organization.
July 1999
Fourth Annual Goose Creek Flood Festival and Potluck dinner. This annual get together helps build community. During the course of the meal, resident concerns are addressed and MHA business is conducted. For the remainder of the year, on going education of resident and community building continues.
In the CLT model, the Land Trust, like the one administered by Thistle Community Housing, owns the Park's land and infrastructure. The MHA, using it non-profit status, would then lease the land for 99 years. All residents, who own their homes now, would lease their lots from the MHA.
Under an LEC, the MHA creates a Co-op Corporation which owns the land and infrastructure of Mapleton Park. Residents would then lease their lot land from the Co-op.
April 2000 - January 2001
MHA continued its educational program, focusing on the models for resident ownership. 12 residents, under the leadership of Alex Wilson, #58, canvass the Park, educating other homeowners on the workings of both models. They answer questions on the advantages and disadvantages of the LEC and the CLT.
On January 21, Mapleton Park residents voted overwhelmingly for the Community Land Trust model for resident ownership.
February 2001
The MHA and Thistle secure financing from Housing and Human Services to pay for a Community Coordinator whose position would help residents coordinate their efforts on the Memorandum of Understanding, education of residents throughout the Park and working with Thistle on the CLT model.
February - Present
The MHA, Thistle Community Housing negotiate the MOU.
January 1998 to Present
The Goose Creek Floodway and Lease issues no longer dominated the MHA's efforts. The MHA and its representatives continue to work with the City of Boulder Staff on management issues directly concerning the Park's residents. The MHA is preparing business and management plans for purchasing the Park. Our immediate plans are to present these plans to City Staff and Council with the hopes of having a resolution passed by Council giving the MHA "Right of First Refusal" to purchase Mapleton Park from the City of Boulder.
Copyright © 2001 Mapleton Home Association. All rights reserved.
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