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Residents plead for help as rents rise and conditions worsen at The Falls mobile home park
Summary
Public commenters told the Ormond Beach commission that lot rents at The Falls have surged, safety and maintenance problems persist, and displaced or intimidated residents need city assistance; city staff said legal and jurisdictional limits constrain immediate action, and commissioners agreed to follow up with staff and code enforcement.
During public comment at the April 21 Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, residents urged the commission to address worsening conditions, rent spikes and alleged improper evictions at The Falls manufactured-home community.
"They're having to turn 70 homes back for $1 — maybe they're homeless," said Colleen McMahon, one of several speakers raising the issue. She said lot rents had risen from about $990 to over $2,000 for some residents and described safety concerns, three reported suicides and intimidation that keeps residents from attending meetings.
Arthur Armstrong, who identified himself as having long experience in real estate, described the situation as "criminal" and said residents are being forced out while properties are flipped. "People cannot live. The conditions — they're forcing these people out," Armstrong said.
City staff and commissioners discussed jurisdictional limits. City staff noted that some regulatory authority lies with state agencies because of how and when structures were originally built, and Deputy City Attorney Ann Margaret Emery had been asked to review the matter, staff said. City Manager Joyce Shanahan and other staff acknowledged they had limited information but said staff would continue looking into options.
Commissioners encouraged residents to continue filing complaints and asked staff to follow up with code enforcement and the appropriate state agencies. "We can follow up," one commissioner said; commissioners did not take formal action at the meeting but asked staff to investigate further and report back.
The public comment period is the formal mechanism for residents to flag issues for staff and commissioners; Mr. Burton and others also asked the commission to preserve remarks in the official record. The commission did not vote on any ordinance or directive related to The Falls at the meeting.
