Mono County housing update: county pilot buys 56 Kirkwood for buyer assistance; Bridgeport Apartments and safe‑parking plans advance amid family appeal

County housing staff presented a monthly update covering the Regional Housing Needs Study (consultant BAE), the county's buyer subsidy pilot, publicly led development options for donated land, Bridgeport Apartments operations and a proposed safe‑parking site.

Staff said the county purchased one pilot property, 56 Kirkwood in Bridgeport, to test a buyer‑assistance model in which the county acquires or holds property to preserve long‑term affordability; staff is evaluating additional candidate properties and integrating inspections and public‑works input before making occupancy decisions. Bridgeport Apartments work continues: county staff are assembling tenant interest lists, finalizing laundry and rekeying, and planning management and lease administration. The county and the town are also working on a safe‑parking site; a site plan and management plan were expected to be delivered by the town this week.

At public comment, Tony Garberino (a descendant of the family that built and owned 56 Kirkwood) said the family recently discovered the property had been sold in a tax sale and urged county staff to help reconcile the title; he said the family can pay taxes and penalties and described a long family history in Bridgeport.

Board direction and next steps: staff will follow up with Garberino and code/treasurer staff on the tax‑sale question; housing staff will continue the Bridge pilot work, coordinate with Public Works and Housing Authority partners, pursue grant opportunities, and return with community engagement results from the RHNA process. The Board asked staff to evaluate partner capacity for property management and to bring follow‑up proposals to the Housing Authority meeting scheduled for April 15.