During the public comment period at the Monday, Nov. 1 meeting, the City Council heard from a number of residents of the Jamison Mobile Home Park and their supporters.
Jamison Mobile Home Park is on Hiatt Street, which runs parallel to Spring Garden Street and is between Spring Garden and the railroad tracks. Jamison Mobile Home Park is about a block from Hops Burger Bar at 2419 Spring Garden St.
Many of the residents of the mobile home park own their mobile homes but rent the land. The property has been rezoned for multifamily use and is under a sales contract to close in January 2022.
Residents of the mobile home park have been protesting since the summer and brought their issues to the City Council Monday night.
According to the speakers, the small mobile home park with 18 homes is largely Hispanic. Several of the speakers used translators. Mayor Nancy Vaughan allowed speakers more than the three-minute time limit to make allowance for the translator.
Several speakers in support of the residents talked about the children in this community that attend Lindley Elementary School and how important they were to the Lindley school community.
Speakers also asked that the city use some of the American Rescue Plan funds to help the residents buy the land, noting that many of the mobile homes cannot be moved.
After the speakers, former City Councilmember and current Neighborhood Development Department Director Michelle Kennedy noted that the property went under contract in December 2020 and the closing was extended for 180 days to give sufficient notification to the residents.
Kennedy said that providing funds to purchase the property wasn’t a viable option because the property was not for sale and the developer who has the property under contract had no intention of backing away from that contract.
Kennedy said that in this case, because the property had been properly rezoned and there was a purchase contract in place, that there was “no viable option” other than relocation of the residents.
Vaughan said, “We need to look at what our options are and how we can best assist the people of Hiatt Street.”
Kennedy added to prevent situations like this in the future, city staff was recommending that renters be given the first right of refusal when property they were renting was put up for sale.
Wow, Vaughn was kind enough to give each resident *a whole 3 minutes* to present their complaint. Tthat speaks volumes about just how much Ms Vaughn actually cares about hispanics in our city. You’re a disappointment to Greensboro Ms. Vaughn
What is your point country boy? She should have offered more time? or less?
In case you haven’t noticed, anything Kennedy is involved in is a bovine fecal storm toppling a dumpster fire. Has anyone investigated how she got put into this position yet?
I think the same thing can be said about your comments. 🙂
chris you should know a lot that bovine matter you sure spout a lot of it
What is your point Chris??
Really BJ? Can’t tell? Ok, since you need the help…I was implying that Just Saying’s comments also like a ‘bovine fecal storm toppling a dumpster fire.
This is his comments are mostly negative, ugly and of little value.
Make sense to you know.
How is the property going to be developed? Is it going to be apartments instead? Will it be less affordable?
I only ask because the city council seems to really care about affordable housing and I would hope the new development would provide a lower cost housing solution.
Socialism for the capital class.
“Pull yourself by your own bootstraps” for the working class.
“Tony Wilkins,
In order to violate the statute an elected official would have to be involved in making or administrating the contract.
The statutory language is below:
So the question is whether she oversees the performance of the contract or has authority to make decisions regarding the contract or to interpret the contract.
No public officer or employee who is involved in making or administering a contract on behalf of a public agency may derive a direct benefit from the contract except as provided in this section, or as otherwise allowed by law.
(2) A public officer or employee is involved in administering a contract if he or she oversees the performance of the contract or has authority to make decisions regarding the contract or to interpret the contract.
Frayda S. Bluestein
David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government
School of Government”
http://www.votetonywilkins.com
Renting is not ownership. While I understand the renter’s concern for relocation, this is not a problem for the City. This is a common occurrence for people who own land and rent space or real estate. When the property becomes more valuable to sell or develop at a higher land use, that is the owner’s option. Land owners have the choice concerning how their land is used. Government needs to stay out of this issue.
Well said Mr. Nelson
Right!
dead right.