Bainbridge Island Trailer Park

Background to Islander Residents Association:

Informed in early 2004 that the park was for sale as a $5,500,000 development parcel ($92,000 per site), the residents decided to fight to acquire the property and maintain it as a manufactured home park.

It was a tough fight, but in the end, the resident group (Islander Residents Association), along with the City of Bainbridge and PMC Financial Services:

How did they do that?

• Set up and funded a resident owned Washington State non-profit corporation to own the property
•  Acquired the park for $4,625,000 ($92,500 per site for 50 sites) in November 2004
• Downsized the park by 10 sites, successfully relocating the 10 homes and residents
•  Sold off two parcels from the original park to local developers to assist in the overall financing plan, and
• Worked with the City of Bainbridge Island and local citizens to provide additional funding for relocation, affordable housing preservation and low income member share purchases

A very friendly resident filled me in as to just how many factors were working against the continued existence of the park:

• The elderly owner was interested in maximizing the real estate value.
• A few local officials felt that having a mobilehome park in the center of town was now inappropriate, given the new boutique resort character of the Town core area.
• Other local affordable housing officials felt that the site would be better used as a 250-site affordable housing complex.
• The property itself is very attractive for other uses, being bordered by City Hall, the local performing arts center, and various newly developed town homes, light commercial and condo projects.
• Washington State law has no mobile home park protection, because with one-year notice all residents could legally be forced to move their homes. 
• There are few, if any, available home sites on the island, and virtually no funds available to relocate older mobilehomes. The residents’ equity would be lost.

Islander Residents Association:  a semi-private entryway where you're not sure you belong, but clues suggest following the street will prove rewarding in some way.

The Path from Madrone Lane in central Bainbridge, a short walk from the Seattle ferry

The Neighborhood

A Watchful Resident

House, Islander Resident

It looked like a normal street, but there were some differences:

The cars are not speeding through here to get somewhere else, and an unspoken code of privacy is respected by the visitor, whose behavior changes immediately once this space is discovered.  Conversation is hushed, but not in a weird way.

I had just stumbled upon a flamingo fairyland park of mobile homes and I had to hurry because the sun had set and I only had a short time to explore.

Each house was inherently funky in its own way.  But each occupied a position on its tiny lot which lent an overall air of cohesiveness--a grid, but not exactly the kind you're used to seeing.  In these residents' houses it's hard to tell where the trailer stops and the house begins and in the end it doesn't really matter.

  

Residents have added sheds, greenhouses and carports to their gardens

There is a casual ambience here, the street is an extension of the driveway and there is little concern for setbacks and fences.

What if you parked your house like you park your car?

Everyone's garden was inviting and very much an extension of living space.

A vacant lot near the park's meeting hall