The Wenatchee World Online
Trailer park residents can stay through August
By Christine Pratt
World staff writer
Posted June 28, 2008

WENATCHEE — The remaining families in the Ninth Street Trailer Park will be allowed to stay at the park through August if they pay their August rent, their attorney said Friday.



According to attorney Patrick Pleas, about 10 families remain at the park, which is situated at the foot of Ninth Street near the Columbia River.


The remaining families signed agreements with property owner Kamkon Development LLC to get out of the park by July 1. Pleas said residents who pay their rent may now stay through the end of August.


The property is part of the city's effort to redevelop its downtown-area waterfront.


Kamkon evicted the residents to make way for upscale condos and shops.


The company has since decided to sell the 2.2-acre property, which is now on the market for $12 million.


Kamkon owner Kris Campbell didn't immediately respond to a phone request for comment Friday.


Pleas said the park's remaining residents have had a hard time finding new homes that they can afford or space in other parks to move their homes.


Citing zoning restrictions, the Chelan County hearing examiner ruled March 5 against an effort by Kamkon to build the residents a new mobile home park south of Wenatchee, across from the Apple Yard train yard.


Members of the Just Housing Coalition, an affordable housing-advocacy group, are working to aid the remaining families.


Coalition spokesman John Nebel said Friday that the group has raised $107,000 in donations to help relocate the remaining families and give financial assistance to those who were still at the park on April 1.


Nebel said the funds are intended to benefit the families that stayed in the park the longest in the hope of moving into the proposed new Kamkon park.


He said the coalition has interviewed 17 families that were still in the park on April 1. The group is trying to locate more families to determine how to allocate the donated funds.


Families who were still living at the Ninth Street Trailer Park on or after April 1 should call the Chelan/Douglas Community Action Council, 662-6156, to apply for some of the donated funding. Callers may speak in English or Spanish, Nebel said.


Christine Pratt: 665-1173


pratt@wenworld.com


COMMENTS

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Oh Karen, the closing of this trailer park was a surprise to no one. Many of the residents that moved in, did so after the writing was on the wall about the riverfront development and this property being converted. They bought trailers, on the cheap, from the long-time residents that were looking for new places to live. They were hoping in the long run to benefit from the gamble of moving into a place and getting a city subsidized up-grade or move.
The low wage earners have plenty of options in this area compared to Monterey County California.We have a lot of other trailer parks, HUD housing, and less expensive communities in the surrounding towns. With the public transit system, people don't have to live right in the middle of town.
Don Ribbs | Jul 3, 2008 3:02 pm | Request Removal
Karen, you have made many points which seem contradictory and disconnected. Reading through this thread you seem to indicate that the plight of the trailer park residents is the direct responsibility of the land owner, who has given nearly 2 years of notice that he would close down the trailer park. Far more notice than is required by law. You have also asserted that those who wanted clear-cut zoning regulations upheld are racially or otherwise motivated. Now you state that you are a pro-zoning capitalist. So what is your point? How does it connect with this specific story? You are throwing everything into your writings from the 2nd Amendment to the colors of houses to property development to rental properties. Whatever point you are trying to make is muddled and seemingly disconnected from the subject story of this thread.
Martin Reginald | Jul 3, 2008 12:30 pm | Request Removal
Martin, I am a red blooded capitalist and do believe that you can certainly sell your land for a profit.

I do believe in zoning. There are reasons for these things, unless of course you support a bar or an adult bookstore right next to a grade school. I also believe that development needs to have the infrastructure to support it and that it is part of the cost of doing business for developers. Having said that, I don't believe in draconian zoning. Cut down a tree, have your business, paint your house bright pink, you have your neighbors to contend with on those issues.

"Rights" are almost always conditional. Even the rights we hold most dear like the right of free speech or to bear arms.

All of this talk marginalizes the issue of the poor in the area. Yes, it would be great and wonderful to have condos and upscale shops and restaurants on the river and if the market will bear it. Just remember, there will be employees of those businesses who are making low wages and have to live somewhere. I am not suggesting they live in the condos, but it will put pressure on the rental market. Just something to consider.
Karen Smith | Jul 3, 2008 11:25 am | Request Removal
Yes, I do believe in property owners rights. Certianly owners of land should be able to do with it what they want within reason. That is really my issue with this whole thing. My issue is not even with the owners. It is with the attitude of "we don't want your kind in our neighborhood." I applaud the efforts that have been made to find people a place to move their homes. I hope the community can find a way to make sure the people who need to move can.

You seem confused, Karen. You state that you believe that property owners have rights "within reason", which indicates that you believe property rights are conditional. I imagine part of those "conditions" include zoning regulations. You then go on to state that your issue ISN'T with the property owners, but people who have insisted on the upholding of zoning regulations...... you describe them as people with the attitude of "we don't want your kind in our neighborhood." This is where you seem confused.

So, which is it, Karen? Do you have a problem with zoning regulations, the people who insist that zoning regulations be observed, or property owners who have a right to dispose of property to make a profit?
Martin Reginald | Jul 2, 2008 1:29 pm | Request Removal
Yes, I do believe in property owners rights. Certianly owners of land should be able to do with it what they want within reason. That is really my issue with this whole thing. My issue is not even with the owners. It is with the attitude of "we don't want your kind in our neighborhood." I applaud the efforts that have been made to find people a place to move their homes. I hope the community can find a way to make sure the people who need to move can.

Don, I am not confused, I know how expensive it is to live in this area. Of course you see many people from California. California has the population of a small country, you are bound to see them. During the years of the boom real estate market people were selling and going to areas that were less expensive, Wenatchee happens to be one. One thing to think about, if developers plan on building expensive condos, you very well may get more Californians because I am not so sure your average working person in Wenatchee can afford it.

Having said all of that - I spent over half my life in Wenatchee. Am a proud grad of WHS and I am a northwest girl at heart. Thanks for the invite to move back, but no thanks. I will be by for a visit
Karen Smith | Jul 2, 2008 11:51 am | Request Removal
Poor confused Karen, I looked up Monterey County on the Web, after the rosey picture you painted, and your problems are far worse than ours. When it comes to affordable housing and considerations made to the low, moderate, and even high-moderate income families, there is little help. That might explain why the majority of new residents in this state seem to come from California. We'll see you back soon.
Don Ribbs | Jun 30, 2008 4:12 pm | Request Removal
So, Karen, you believe that a private property owner should have no say as to how to ustilize his property?
Martin Reginald | Jun 30, 2008 3:58 pm | Request Removal
When only water front property will do.... I believe that can be arranged...

You are right probably not in Pebble Beach or Carmel but certianly in South County we can find a place

I understand that the land is "valuable" and I do see where it would be nice to have shops and condos down by the river. But it seems to me this has come at a price which many are very willing to pay, but frankly some can not.
Karen Smith | Jun 30, 2008 3:22 pm | Request Removal
Karen, not just any place...only one down by the water will due. Let's see how many of those you have in Monterey County, California for a 'house on wheels'.
Don Ribbs | Jun 30, 2008 2:31 pm | Request Removal
Don, I live in Monterey County California.....

Yes, even here we have room for people who can only afford to live in a "house on wheels"
Karen Smith | Jun 30, 2008 12:00 pm | Request Removal
Karen, please share where you have moved. We can get a 10 family trailer convoy to the Utopia that you call home.
Don Ribbs | Jun 30, 2008 11:18 am | Request Removal
Here is a news flash for you.... There are poor people in Wenatchee... So you might want to get used to it.

Lets face it, the wages in the Valley aren't that great and with gas prices and rent on the increase there isn't alot many people can do. There are good hardworking people who are poor and doing as much as they can to make ends meet and it isn't easy these days.

After reading the responses to the article, I am reminded why I don't live in Wenatchee any more. Besides the fact the wages are "not that great", the attitude of many people is, dare I say it, arrogant. Yes, the valley is pretty but so are many places, I find its the attitude that truly makes a place beautiful.
Karen Smith | Jun 30, 2008 9:29 am | Request Removal
When you have wheels under your house, you should see this coming.
Don Ribbs | Jun 30, 2008 1:09 am | Request Removal
Yes, the land is technically "worth that much".

The amount of rent those families have been paying is nowhere near enough to justify keeping them there, and in any case, why should a private property owner have to cater to others needs first before their own? If they want to sell it, sell it. As long as they aren't breaking leases they are perfectly within their rights.

I would wager that the rents don't even pay the taxes.

That is the real risk you take when renting, ultimately you have little to no say over what the property owner decides to do with the property that *they* own.

It is a slippery slope and the government or anyone else has no business saying when we can sell and what we can do with property that we own. Property ownership is a basic right in this country and that is the way it should stay.
Rebecca Jones | Jun 29, 2008 9:33 pm | Request Removal
$12 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 2.2 ACRES OF LAND. IM JUST WONDERING IF THAT LAND IS REALLY WORTH THAT MUCH MONEY. CAUSE IF SO I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE OWNERS OF IT WOULD EVICT THE TENENTS, WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN UPGRADED SO ALL THOSE FAMILYS WOULDNT HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
FOR WHAT, CONDOS AND SHOPS? WOW GIVE ME A BREAK.

SANDRA RODGERS
Sandra Rodgers | Jun 29, 2008 2:11 am | Request Removal
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