Bill Challenges Housing Park Coop Model

Representative Larry Emerton says he's concerned about fairness.

Currently, a minority of manufactured housing park residents can purchase a park and convert it into a coop, even if a majority of people living there oppose the deal.

Emerton lives in a Goffstown park that recently suffered through a contentious fight pitting neighbor against neighbor.

T.2
4:30 the problem was that during the many months of negotiations, the approximate 300 owners became divided into approximately three parts. 1/3rd for, 1/3rd against, and 1/3rd with folks who were sort of in the middle...afraid to take sides.

Emerton told the House Commerce Committee the disagreement over whether the coop should become the next owner sparked competing meetings, newsletters and plenty of hurt feelings.

Every at the Goffstown park, and at any park for that matter, is eligible to join their park's cooperative.

At some point in the process, if the park is for sale a majority of coop members must vote to make an offer.

But Emerton said in his community, many of the older residents didn't want to pay the $25 dollars required to join the coop, just to get a vote.

T.2
5:32 what do I do when I can't vote? They asked. I don't belong to the association, and I don't want to belong.

That type of dilemma is what prompted Emerton to introduce House Bill 1327.

That measure says, the coop needs a majority of people who own units in the park to sign on, in order to make a bid.

The New Hampshire Manufactured Housing Association has thrown its weight behind the bill.

Park owner and Vice President of the Association Mark Tay told the House Committee that park residents are being coerced into backing the coops.

T.5
8:30 there is something here that should be jumping out at you. What about all the people who haven't really had a choice in this. And don't believe they are all sitting in their homes ignoring the whole thing...they are a group you should be legitimately concerned about that doesn't really have a voice.... how are you going to make sure everyone has a voice?

Tay offered lawmakers an analogy.

T.5
11:32 if I went to the polls to vote for one of you and I had to pay $25 bucks to do it. I would be upset about that.

Attorney Elliot Berry, who helped create the state's coop program, laughed at the Housing Association logic.

He says there is nothing democratic about a private investor purchasing a park.

T.8
4:38 ask yourself, what is their concern with democracy? Do they ever have to get the vote of any resident in the park to purchase their park? Do they ever have to subject a rent increase to the members of their park?

Berry believes the bill is inherently unfair.

No other commercial buyer of a park is expected to meet the standard laid out in the legislation.

Critics say whether the park is purchased by a private investor or a coop, residents will still have to pay rent.

The difference between the two, says Berry, is that a 2005 study shows that units in a coop sell more quickly and for higher prices.

T.16
5:50 once you know the facts about the long-term security, knowing the park isn't going to be sold out from under you and paying a stable rent, why would you oppose a coop. Worst comes to worst, you don't have to join.

The bill has been sent to sub-committee.

For NHPR News, I'm DG.