Candidates at Alamosa forum urge action as Century Mobile Home Park shows persistent problems

At a Meet the Candidates event hosted by the Valley Courier and the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce, candidates and Mayor Ty Coleman described ongoing problems at Century Mobile Home Park and outlined how the city and local organizations could respond.

The park’s condition drew repeated attention from candidates representing the city’s south side and at-large council seats. Alex Brown, a write‑in candidate for Ward 4, said he recently drove through the park and found conditions “quite troubling,” citing unsecured empty trailers and concern for children’s safety. “That’s my biggest concern is mainly the safety, you know, public safety in that area,” Brown said.

Mark Martinez, another Ward 4 write‑in, said the Alamosa Housing Coalition has taken over ownership and is working to bring the park up to code but that progress uncovers new needs. “I think the water lines there are a major issue,” Martinez said, noting leaks can cause foundational damage and require grant funding and repairs.

Challenger Zachary Reeves and incumbent Jan Vigil, both running in at‑large races, urged a mix of short‑term city actions and longer grants‑based work. Reeves proposed improved lighting and cameras for safety and emphasized community support work; Vigil said the council can “put some good pressure on whoever services the trash out there to do the job, do it right, clean up.”

Councilor Dawn Krebs, who represents Ward 2, praised the Housing Coalition’s takeover but cautioned that repairs can be slow because fixes often reveal additional problems. “They fix one thing, but it uncovers another issue,” Krebs said, adding that the coalition’s budget limits how quickly the park can be refurbished and that coordinated assistance is needed.

Mayor Ty Coleman said the city has “been one of the first to step up” to assist the park’s residents but stressed limits on municipal authority because the site is a privately owned park. “As a city municipality, we are limited in what we can do,” Coleman said, while noting the city has offered help and continues to work with housing partners.

Speakers offered a range of actions the city or its partners could take: increased police patrols for safety, targeted trash‑service enforcement, collaboration with the Alamosa Housing Coalition on grant applications and repairs, and selective code enforcement where appropriate. Several candidates said enforcement should be sensitive to residents’ financial limits and aging populations who may be unable to maintain yards and infrastructure without help.

The discussion at the forum did not include a formal city action or vote on the park; candidates and the mayor instead described ongoing and potential collaborations between the city, the housing coalition, and service providers.

The issue drew sustained attention during the forum because the park houses long‑term residents whose conditions implicate public safety, utilities and homelessness and because several candidates and councilors described continuing, active work by the Housing Coalition and by city staff and volunteers.