By Rob Hayes | Source |
BELL, Calif. (KABC) — Hundreds of people who live in two Bell mobile home parks may soon be displaced as the city works on plans to close the parks and sell them to be redeveloped into housing, retail and entertainment destinations.
The city says it still owns the Bell Mobile Home Park and the Florence Village Mobile Home Park, which together contain more than 400 residential units. But Bell wants to close the parks “to protect resident safety and support long-term land use planning and community reinvestment” according to a statement from the city manager’s office.
Residents are concerned that the city’s plans will push them out of the parks and into housing they would no longer be able to afford.
“It will be extremely difficult because they’re already in an elderly age so to find somewhere in their income here in LA is going to be extremely difficult,” said Christian Camarena, who’s elderly parents have lived at the Bell Mobile Home Park for 15 years. “They want to get rid of everybody here to make room for low income housing, which doesn’t make sense because a lot of people here are already low income.”
The City of Bell says it plans to replace the mobile home parks with “new affordable and senior housing, retail, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities…”
The city also says a licensed appraiser will meet with residents to establish the fair market value of their home, adding, “The City is committed to working closely with all affected households to ensure they receive support, resources, and assistance in securing future housing.”
But residents are scared. Over the weekend, many of them held an informational rally to fight back against the city’s plans. They are worried that what the city will offer them won’t be enough to keep them above water.
“Where are we going to go if it doesn’t match?” asked Kunti Bowers. “We are low-income and a big part of the population is elderly, they’re seniors, they have a fixed income. They cannot pay the rent outside.”
Marvin Nelson, who’s lived in the Bell Mobile Home Park for 18 years says if the park closes, he’ll have to move out of California.
“I’m 74 years old, I’m not going to be able to get another job,” Nelson said. “I live paycheck-to-paycheck and the pension that I get is enough to pay for my rent and food. Even up to Riverside, I checked mobile home parks for something that could be affordable, in my range. It’s not.”
Bell officials say the relocation plan is still being finalized. When it’s complete it will then be reviewed and considered by the City Council.
ED. NOTE: GSMOL Zone Vice President Mary Jo Baretich is working with our members in the two Bell parks.
