The next picture is the same lot nearly one month after the meeting. (Click on the pictures for a larger view.)
A picture is worth a thousand words...unfortunately I cannot post them here.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
An Example of MCM's Concern...
The following picture was taken a few days before the meeting Upland Cascade Mobile Home Park residents had with Mobile Community Management. The former resident was evicted around January. This lot was mentioned during the meeting and pointed out to Ms. Costaglio.
The next picture is the same lot nearly one month after the meeting. (Click on the pictures for a larger view.)
A picture is worth a thousand words...unfortunately I cannot post them here.
The next picture is the same lot nearly one month after the meeting. (Click on the pictures for a larger view.)
A picture is worth a thousand words...unfortunately I cannot post them here.
Community Meeting with Mobile Community Management
It has been nearly a month since we had our meeting with our park management company..MCM. In this post I will briefly tell you what was discussed as per information I received from attendees.
First of all approximately 50 residents attended the meeting with MCM being represented by David Starnes, State Facilities Manager and Natalie Costaglio, Senior Regional Manager. It was announced by Ms. Costaglio that Sue Brown and Dorothy Gunn could not attend because they were "very ill."
The meeting began with Ms. Costaglio stating that MCM has always wanted to have a good working relationship with its residents. This brought about a "since when!" response from one of our residents. Many of the residents felt that the only reason management was here now was because of a possible failure to maintain lawsuit. My feeling is that they were here fishing for information regarding what they might be facing should a lawsuit take place. So right off, MCM's sincerity was in question.
Ms. Costaglio then stated that MCM was not aware of any problems in the park because residents have not brought them to their attention. Residents then responded that when resident concern forms were turned in they were never acted upon by management and many felt that the forms probably went no further than the local office.
Some of the other topics discussed during the meeting are as follows:
One resident was concerned that management is not doing its job and so property values are declining.
Problems with dogs running loose were discussed.
Park appearance...park owned homes and empty lots are not being maintained. Management responded that they maintain vacant lots with weeding and chaining. (Chaining???) Also, if someone is evicted or walks away, there is an in depth legal process that may prevent management from cleaning up the lot.
One home was the focus of discussion by a resident who claimed that his neighbor left the home in January and at that time signed the home over to the park. It has sat there for months, unmaintained and an eyesore which is hindering his attempt to sell his own home. He asked management why they could do nothing if the home was signed over to them in January. Management offered no real answer to his questions.
Dried/dead plants and foliage around vacant homes were brought up as being a health and safety hazard. One carelessly thrown cigarette could start a fire that could take a few homes with it. It was asked, "does not MCM have employees go around the park and look at their own properties problems?" Do residents need to tell them of every single space of theirs that needs to be attended to?
Water cut-off and electric outages were discussed.
Poor night lighting.
Poor security that allows squatters to camp out on vacant lots at night.
A rumor was brought up that the park sells their homes by offering much lower rents than a resident can offer a prospective buyer.
An attempt was made to discuss the high rents in the park but Ms. Costaglio dismissed and ignored them because they were not a topic of discussion on her agenda. Although many felt that the high rents were driving many residents out of the park and further decreasing the values of their homes, Ms. Costaglio simply refused to discuss this item.
There were other items discussed, but I have listed here some of the most important that were brought up. If anything else is brought to my attention regarding this meeting I will bring it up in later posts.
Ms. Costaglio then closed the meeting stating that anytime residents want to have a meeting with management they are always willing to do so. This could also include park issues such as the rents.
We'll see.
First of all approximately 50 residents attended the meeting with MCM being represented by David Starnes, State Facilities Manager and Natalie Costaglio, Senior Regional Manager. It was announced by Ms. Costaglio that Sue Brown and Dorothy Gunn could not attend because they were "very ill."
The meeting began with Ms. Costaglio stating that MCM has always wanted to have a good working relationship with its residents. This brought about a "since when!" response from one of our residents. Many of the residents felt that the only reason management was here now was because of a possible failure to maintain lawsuit. My feeling is that they were here fishing for information regarding what they might be facing should a lawsuit take place. So right off, MCM's sincerity was in question.
Ms. Costaglio then stated that MCM was not aware of any problems in the park because residents have not brought them to their attention. Residents then responded that when resident concern forms were turned in they were never acted upon by management and many felt that the forms probably went no further than the local office.
Some of the other topics discussed during the meeting are as follows:
One resident was concerned that management is not doing its job and so property values are declining.
Problems with dogs running loose were discussed.
Park appearance...park owned homes and empty lots are not being maintained. Management responded that they maintain vacant lots with weeding and chaining. (Chaining???) Also, if someone is evicted or walks away, there is an in depth legal process that may prevent management from cleaning up the lot.
One home was the focus of discussion by a resident who claimed that his neighbor left the home in January and at that time signed the home over to the park. It has sat there for months, unmaintained and an eyesore which is hindering his attempt to sell his own home. He asked management why they could do nothing if the home was signed over to them in January. Management offered no real answer to his questions.
Dried/dead plants and foliage around vacant homes were brought up as being a health and safety hazard. One carelessly thrown cigarette could start a fire that could take a few homes with it. It was asked, "does not MCM have employees go around the park and look at their own properties problems?" Do residents need to tell them of every single space of theirs that needs to be attended to?
Water cut-off and electric outages were discussed.
Poor night lighting.
Poor security that allows squatters to camp out on vacant lots at night.
A rumor was brought up that the park sells their homes by offering much lower rents than a resident can offer a prospective buyer.
An attempt was made to discuss the high rents in the park but Ms. Costaglio dismissed and ignored them because they were not a topic of discussion on her agenda. Although many felt that the high rents were driving many residents out of the park and further decreasing the values of their homes, Ms. Costaglio simply refused to discuss this item.
There were other items discussed, but I have listed here some of the most important that were brought up. If anything else is brought to my attention regarding this meeting I will bring it up in later posts.
Ms. Costaglio then closed the meeting stating that anytime residents want to have a meeting with management they are always willing to do so. This could also include park issues such as the rents.
We'll see.
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