:: ROP COMMUNITIES
Sandpiper Park
115 G Street
Arcata, California (Humboldt County)
Sandpiper Park Niles is located in the beautiful community of Arcata in Humboldt County. The park owners, not park residents, 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, if the park was purchased by nonprofit ROP. 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 to 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 also arranged for loans covering necessary upgrades of the park following close of escrow in March 2007. Park common area upgrades are now in progress and will include asphalt surfacing of streets, and a new gas pipeline distribution system in the park to service all homes.
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. The first seminar for residents on this unique loan program was conducted by City staff in May 2007. 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.
