HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - OppositionPage 1 of 2
Jeanette Williams
Subject: FW: Shady Rest
-----Original Message -----
From: Pat Bryan [mailto:pbryan@ascentmedia.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:14 AM
To: Sally Maio; Alfred Minner
Subject: FW: Shady Rest
Mr. Minner, Ms Maio,
I sent this to the council members, but since it is the same day as your meeting, please make sure the
council does get this. I would attend and speak myself, but I have my own council meeting to attend tonight.
Thank you very much
Pat Bryan
St Sebastian Social Justice Committee
Town Council Grant-Valkaria
321-952-4243
pbryan@ascentmedia.com
From: Pat Bryan
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:09 AM
To: 'sneglia@cityofsebastian.org'; 'acoy@cityofsebastian.org'; 'ewolff@cityofsebastian.org';
'dsimchick@cityofsebastian.org';'apaternoster@cityofsebastian.org'
Subject: Shady Rest
Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members,
I am writing you concerning the proposed annexation of Shady Rest Mobile Home Park. As a fellow
elected official (Grant-Valkaria), I can appreciate the need to balance growth with the needs of those affected
by the growth. I know how hard these decisions are. However, I do have an interest in what happens to
Shady Rest as many of my fellow parishioners live there. I am also involved with the issues of Christian
Social Justice, and this falls under that heading (fair and affordable housing.)
I have read the agenda packet (and I complain that our packets are large!!! Wow!!) concerning the
annexation and the owner/developer does make a good case. But there are some things you need to
consider.
First; the owner states that he has lost money due to the amount of vacancies. He feels that
hurricane concerns have hurt his ability to get more residents. Actually, what has hurt his ability to get more
residents is that fact that everyone knows this property has been for sale and folks are afraid to move there
and lose their homes. The folks that are left are folks that have no choice but to stay. If people felt that their
homes were safe if they moved there, the vacancies would diminish.
Second; the residents spent a lot of money repairing their homes after the 2004/2005 storms.
However, since their homes are older they will not be allowed to move them, so they will lose most of what
they spent on repairs. The packet makes it sound like they would voluntarily abandon their homes, but it is
not voluntary. They will be forced to due to the age of their homes. And the pittance they will receive does
not cover the cost of securing a new residence, regardless of how many other mobile home parks or
apartments are available. These folks are on fixed incomes, and they have very little options. If the homes
were taken by eminent domain at least they would get fair market value. The pittance they will receive is not
fair market value.
Gentrification is a large problem in Florida as mobile home parks are sold for condo and commercial
development. Right now in the Keys, workers are being bussed in from the mainland because there is no
4/23/2008
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affordable housing for low wage workers, but yet mobile home parks are still being gobbled up. Shady Rest is
not a "dump"...the residents take pride in their homes and the park has recovered nicely from the storms. It is
a wonderful place to live and — most important to senior citizens — close to shopping. I know most, if not all, of
you ran on a responsible growth platform. It is questionable if annexing Shady Rest and changing the land
usage to commercial or condo usage is responsible growth.
do not mean to tell you how to run your wonderful city, but please consider the residents and their
needs. Please. This is more than just a land use decision. This is people's lives... people who are the most
vulnerable.
Thank you for your time
Pat Bryan
St Sebastian Social Justice Committee
& Town Council, Grant-Valkaria
Patrick Bryan
Logistics Department
Ascent Media & Technology Services
321-952-4243
pbryan@ascentmedia.com
4/23/2008