The decision brought an end to the months-long debate over whether tenant protections that had been enshrined in local and state laws should be extended to people living in mobile homes.
Laws such as Long Beach’s soon-to-be-repealed tenant relocation ordinance and the statewide rent hike cap that goes into effect Jan. 1 do not apply to mobile home residents because they own the mobile homes themselves while renting the land underneath them.
That loophole became clear in September, when residents in the seniors-only Belmont Shores Mobile Estates received a letter informing them of a 35% rent hike that would go into effect in January.
The park’s management company has offered a new rent credit program, along with subsidies for some folks, but residents are skeptical it will be enough to keep them in their homes.
The park’s management company, Newport Pacific, has tried to respond to those worries. Although the company issued a Sept. 26 letter to residents notifying them that the steep increase would take effect Jan. 1, they have since reached out again. A Nov. 18 letter informed McPherson and her neighbors that the 35% hike would still go into effect as planned – but every resident will be eligible for rent credits that will effectively spread the increase out over the next four years.
Now, the residents will have to pay an 8.7% increase on Jan 1; next year, they will face another 8% hike; the year after that, they will be charged another 7.4% raise; and finally, on Jan. 1, 2023, they will face a 7.2% increase.
A recent post by the Mobile Home Park Home Owners Allegiance offers a complete history of Belmont Shores Mobile Estates and a list of all current “landowners.” You will see that numerous corporations are listed. There is no doubt that mobile home parks are becoming big business for numerous investors across the United States.
Belmont Shores Mobile Estates resident owners hope to keep the park in line with affordable housing and see space rent stabilization as the best method to meet that goal. Now is the time for the city of Long Beach to take the lead and show other cities that Long Beach is a big city with a big heart that cares about what happens to its senior population on fixed income, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Greystone announced it has provided a $33,700,000 Freddie Mac loan to refinance Belmont Shores Mobile Estates, a 347-unit age-restricted manufactured housing and mobile home community in Long Beach, California. The transaction was originated by Dale Holzer in Greystone’s Newport Beach, CA office, on behalf of Alamitos Bay Partnership LLC with Don Smith of Sunrise Mortgage & Investment Co. acting as a correspondent.
It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the borrower to help them achieve their ambitious plan to revitalize this property,” said Mr. Holzer. “The property has been in our client’s portfolio since 1981; securing the financing helps to facilitate the long-term viability of the property and most importantly, ensure a comfortable living space for the residents of Belmont Shores Mobile Estates.
The City Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting to ask the City Attorney to draft options for a rent stabilization ordinance that would apply to mobile homes. The item is expected to come back to the panel at its Nov. 19 meeting, with the goal of passing a new law by Jan 1, 2020.
Hayley Munguia, Long Beach Press-Telegram
Many of the residents living in the area own their homes but rent out the space. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a law that would protect renters from egregious rent hikes of over five percent – but mobile park residents don’t fall under that law.
Lesley Marin, CBS Los Angeles
After dozens of residents from Belmont Shores Mobile Estates spoke in public comment at the Tuesday, Oct. 15 City Council meeting about their plight, Mayor Robert Garcia and City Councilwoman Suzie Price — whose Third District encompasses the park — said they would ensure Long Beach prevents a similar rent hike from happening in the future.
Hayley Munguia, Long Beach Press-Telegram
A letter sent to residents in late September from Newport Pacific Capital Company Inc., the group that manages the park, noted these improvements and that rents had not been raised on existing residents since January 2017 and that the increases, some of which are as high as 35%, were needed to account for the improvements and the current market.
Jason Ruiz, Long Beach Post News
These residents are in a terrible position, Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement about the Belmont Shores Mobile Estates residents. “A 35% rent hike would be hard on anyone — but these residents are paying this ground rent on top of mortgages for their actual mobile homes.
Hayley Munguia, The Grunion
Leaders of the Long Beach Coalition for Rent Stabilization hope to get organized by November, when they plan a petition drive for 25,000 signatures. For some of them, it’s deja vu. Long Beach voters rejected a rent-control proposal in 1979 and supporters failed to get enough registered voters’ signatures on an initiative drive in 1981.
Some, like Bob Keller of the Belmont Shore Mobile Estates Park, are behind the movement. But others, like Bethany Wilburn of the Villa Park Mobile Home Park, support a rent stabilization law for the parks but not an ordinance affecting all renters. If problems at Villa Park are not resolved, however, Wilburn and others said they may find themselves supporting rent control citywide.
Roxana Kopetman, Los Angeles Times
By purchasing the park, the tenants would be able to stabilize their rents and get a grip on their economic future, Ide said, adding that his group would like to begin negotiations to buy the park within a few weeks.
Villa Park is not the first mobile home community in Long Beach with such a plan. At Belmont Shores Mobile Estates, a 347-space park near Loynes Drive, residents have been working for the past 18 months to buy the facility because of fears it will be sold and their rents will skyrocket.
Eric Bailey, Los Angeles Times
CA MRL Online MRL FAQs RVPOL Online
Newport Pacific Family of Companies (C0992632) (2012-Present)
17300 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 280
Irvine, California 92614
949-852-5575
http://newportpacific.com/
Grossman Company Properties (Circa 1984-2005)
3101 North Central Avenue, Suite 1390
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
https://www.grossmancompany.com/
Reference: https://www.grossmancompany.com/residential-land/residential-landpast-developments/
Grossman Company Properties’ extensive Mobile Home Park portfolio has included numerous communities totaling more than 1,300 individual spaces in a variety of desirable cities in Arizona and California:
2003-10-10 – Civil Lawsuit Filed by Residents
Case Number: BC304034
Plaintiffs 1-66 vs Belmont Shore Mobile Et Al
Status: Settled on 2005-04-25 (Request for Dismissal)
Settlement Amount: $4,625,000 (66 Plaintiffs)
Follett Investment Properties Inc (2005-2012)
3600 American River Drive, Suite 215
Sacramento, California 95864
https://follettusa.com/
Reference: https://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/05/prweb239149.htm
2005-05-12 – Follett Investment Properties, Inc. is pleased to highlight its acquisition of Belmont Shores Mobile Estates, a waterfront mobile home community located in Long Beach, CA. Due to the sellers bankruptcy proceedings salient data other than the sales price of $3 million is not available to the public.
Constructed in 1961, Belmont Shores is a 347 site Senior Community (55 and older) on 32.35 acres. The property is 100% occupied with an average existing space rent of $709. Belmont Shores' clubhouse and recreational facilities overlook the Cerritos Bahia Marina and key home sites within the community enjoy sweeping views of the Los Cerritos Channel. The Property offers its residents numerous amenities; including a barbecue and picnic area, modern laundry facilities, library, manned gated entrance, reading room, billiard room and much more.
2012-02-06 – Civil Lawsuit Filed by Residents
Case Number: NC057161
Appeal Number: B243326
Plaintiffs 1-51 vs Belmont Shore Investors CA2/2
Status: Settled on 2014-12-09 (Request for Dismissal)
Settlement Amount: $ Unknown (51 Plaintiffs)
Alamitos Bay Partnership LLC (200617810121)
2200 West Valley Boulevard
Alhambra, California 91803
Cinnamon/Alamitos Bay LLC (201735210239)
2716 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 2025
Santa Monica, California 90405
Fisher Associates LLC (201735210239)
2200 West Valley Boulevard
Alhambra, California 91803
M-K Alamitos Associates LLC (201220910249)
23501 Cinema Drive, Suite 216
Valencia, California 91355
Midland Management LP (199032300019)
27 St Raphael
Laguna Niguel, California 92677
The Gulf American Company Inc (C1485323)
12501 Chandler Boulevard, Suite 100
Valley Village, California 91607
Watt Companies Inc (C2936454)
2716 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 2025
Santa Monica, California 90405
Wessex Investments LLC (200512510029)
2716 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 2025
Santa Monica, California 90405
Note: Click/tap on table headings to sort ascending or descending, click/tap the # column to reset.
# | Name | Address | City | ST | Zip | Phone | Spaces | RV1 | RV2 | Type | Rent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arbor Mobile Village Operated By: AGRE Royce Holdings LLC Inspire Communities |
300 E Arbor St | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 310-422-3666 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 55 | |||
Belmont Shores Mobile Estates Operated By: Wessex Investments LLC Newport Pacific |
6230 Marina View Dr | Long Beach | CA | 90803 | 562-431-4132 | 347 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 1,650 | 02/2023 | |
Best Trailer Park Operated By: Dzikowski Investments LLC |
5602 Long Beach Blvd | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-422-5757 | 169 | 7 | 0 | AA | |||
Del Amo Trailer Park Operated By: Les Frame Enterprises Inc |
4895 Oregon Ave | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 310-422-2884 | 146 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 900 | 02/2023 | |
Friendly Village Mobile Home Park Previously Operated By: Kort & Scott Sierra Corporate Management Friendly Village GP LLC Friendly Village MHP Associates LP |
5450 Paramount Blvd | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-531-3002 | 182 | 0 | 0 | AA | 1,400 | 02/2023 | |
Golden Shore RV Resort Operated By: Kim Wassik |
101 Golden Shore | Long Beach | CA | 90802 | 562-435-4646 | 0 | 77 | 0 | AA | 2,400 | 02/2023 | |
Las Brisas Operated By: Donald Shepherd |
400 E Arbor St | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-423-5267 | 14 | 0 | 0 | AA | 1,250 | 02/2023 | |
Las Brisas I Operated By: Donald Shepherd |
400 E Arbor St | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-423-5267 | 80 | 0 | 0 | AA | 1,250 | 02/2023 | |
Shady Acres Mobile Home Park Operated By: Mobilehome Group II LP |
5533 Long Beach Blvd | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-423-0540 | 107 | 0 | 0 | AA | 880 | 02/2023 | |
Villa Park Mobile Estates Operated By: LB Villa Park LLC Les Frame Management Inc |
6475 Atlantic Ave | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 562-422-3140 | 432 | 0 | 0 | AA | 1,325 | 02/2023 | |
Wayside Trailer Park Operated By: Diversified Income Properties LP |
234 E 47th St | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 310-428-0633 | 50 | 0 | 0 | AA | |||
Westland Trailer City Operated By: Alevy Westland MHP LLC |
6665 Long Beach Blvd | Long Beach | CA | 90805 | 310-639-7130 | 106 | 99 | 0 | AA | 1,300 | 02/2023 | |
Windward Village Operated By: Resident Owned Community (ROC) |
3595 Santa Fe Ave | Long Beach | CA | 90810 | 562-424-3233 | 305 | 0 | 0 | AA | 245 | 02/2023 | |
Total Spaces: | 2,002 | 183 | 0 | 1,375 | 02/2023 |
* Average Space Rent Excludes Windward Village HOA Fee.