By admin 
BELL, Calif. (KABC) — Residents of the Bell Mobile Home Park say they learned Tuesday of the city’s latest plans to possibly sell the city-owned property, a proposal that could ultimately require all 115 homes in the park to be removed.
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Residents said a roughly 100-page Relocation Impact Report was delivered to their homes that morning outlining potential relocation plans. According to the city, rents at the park have not been raised in 15 years at the nearly 80-year-old, city-owned mobile home park.
Many residents expressed uncertainty about what the redevelopment could mean for their future housing.
“Where are we going to go? Where are they going to send us to? So they’re going to relocate us but where is that?” asked resident Ailed Rodriguez.
Longtime resident Merly Albizures, who said she has lived in the park for 30 years, criticized city leaders over the proposal.
“It’s not fair because all this problem we have here is political. The councilmembers – they don’t care about the community,” Albizures said.
The Bell City Council would have to approve any sale of the property, but if it does happen, the city is offering different relocation packages depending on residents’ circumstances.
If a mobile home can be moved, the city would cover the cost of relocating the home and personal belongings, provide an additional payment based on the size of the home and pay the difference in rent at a new location for 42 months.
If a home cannot be moved, the city would purchase it at its appraised market value, which could range from less than $2,000 to as much as $197,000.
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The city would also help cover the difference between that amount and the cost of a new home. Residents who choose to rent instead would also be eligible for the 42-month rent differential.
Residents who currently rent homes in the park would have moving costs covered and receive the same 42-month rent differential.
Several residents said those benefits would not be enough in Southern California’s housing market.
“For me, I would probably move out of state and use that money for a down payment but you’re talking about starting at $1,800 … I wouldn’t be able to afford a down payment with that,” said Marvin Nelson, who has lived in the park for 20 years.
Nelson said he is reluctant to leave behind the garden he has cultivated during his two decades at the property.
Rodriguez, who has lived in the park for a year, said her family would not qualify for any relocation benefits.
“Where are we going to go? We would have to find somewhere else around here that we could possibly go to,” Rodriguez said.
The City of Bell said no residents are required to move at this time. However, if the property is ultimately sold, residents would be given six months to move out.
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