Sandpiper

Sandpiper Park is located in the beautiful
community of Arcata in Humboldt County, home
to Humboldt State University. The park owners
first contacted ROP explaining that they had
decided to sell the park and wanted to protect
their residents and preserve affordable housing.
The parks owners and ROP arranged a meeting
with the Community Development Department of
the City of Arcata to determine if financial
assistance would be available from the City.
Based upon the enthusiasm and support of the
City for the park's nonprofit purchase by ROP, the
park owner and ROP entered into contract for
purchase of the park. Not only did the City of
Arcata hold public hearings and pass resolutions
providing tax benefits for the selling park owner,
but the City also provided low interest loans
toward purchase of the park which covered all
closing costs and initial reserves. The City is
providing funding for park common area upgrades
to be started in 2010. A unique aspect of this
transaction was ROP's commitment and
cooperation with the City of Arcata, to upgrade the
park by the City offering its first time home buyer
assistance program to assist low income
residents of the park in replacing old trailers with
new homes. Sandpiper Park is a good example of
what can be accomplished when a park owner is
willing to sell, and a City is supportive of the
nonprofit purchase of mobilehome parks.