Mountain Valley residents work on cooperative purchase plan for mobile home park

In a recent meeting held by the Town of Carbondale, significant discussions emerged regarding the Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park, where residents are actively pursuing the formation of a cooperative to buy their park. This initiative is crucial as it requires the support of 80% of the residents to move forward. Currently, there is a buyer interested in the park, which has led to a reduction in the asking price from $18 million to $15.5 million. Residents have a deadline of approximately 120 days to finalize their offer, with a target date set for July or August.

The cooperative model being explored by the residents, facilitated by Thistle Rock, aims to create resident-owned communities. This structure is designed to protect residents from market rate increases and profit-driven motives, providing them with greater control and security against potential evictions. The importance of this initiative is underscored by the fact that many residents are Latino workers who contribute significantly to the local economy, and there are 65 children from the park attending Carbondale schools.

The town's involvement is particularly relevant as it houses two units of employee housing within the park. Discussions are ongoing about potential financial support from local jurisdictions, which may be structured as investments rather than grants to ensure repayment if the cooperative were to dissolve in the future.

In addition to the mobile home park discussions, the meeting also touched on community services, including a spring cleanup event scheduled for May 10. This event will allow residents to dispose of various types of waste, including electronics and hazardous materials, at no charge, reinforcing the town's commitment to environmental sustainability.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the community's proactive steps towards securing affordable housing and enhancing local services, reflecting the town's ongoing efforts to address pressing social and economic issues. As the cooperative initiative progresses, the town will continue to monitor developments and provide updates to the community.