By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — The residents of Mercer Mobile Homes on Route 130 have been left in limbo by the collapse of a local nonprofit’s plan to buy the trailer park for $5.5 million with financial assistance from the township.
”Our people here are very, very disappointed,” Sally Harrison, the president of the mobile home park’s homeowners association said Monday. “They have been stringing us along for a long time.”
The homeowners association, which has fought for years with the park’s current owner, Larry Kaufman, over rent control and sewer repairs, had enthusiastically welcomed the announcement nine months ago that Allies was buying the park and committed to fixing the sewers. However, as time dragged on without a firm closing date, and the problems with the community’s deteriorating sewers continued, many of the residents became frustrated about the delays.
The contract Allies signed last April had called for the township to provide up to $2.1 million from its affordable housing trust fund toward the $5.5 million purchase price. The 147 units inside the mobile home park would then be counted toward the township’s affordable housing obligation.
In a news release issued on Jan. 9, Mayor Dave Fried said the town and Allies had “mutually agreed” to terminate their partnership. The mayor said the town was working diligently with the park’s ownership to “find a new partner that will be committed to those residents and their properties…”
No reason was given for the collapse of the deal, however, Township Attorney Mark Roselli said at a public meeting a month ago that Allies was apparently having difficulty obtaining financing. Mr. Roselli’s remarks to the Township Council were prompted by a Mercer Mobile Homes resident’s complaints about the ongoing sewer problems and the delays in the sale of the property.
Allies Inc.’s CEO Elise Tretola did not return a request for comment.
On Oct. 12, the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved Mr. Kaufman’s amended subdivision request, which was needed in order for the deal with Allies to move forward.
Under the plan, Mr. Kaufman was to retain ownership of two lots totaling 4.5 acres that front Route 130. The remaining 14 acres where the mobile home park is located (behind the highway frontage) was to be sold to Allies.
Ms. Tretola, who was present at that meeting, told the zoning board she expected that the deal to acquire Mercer Mobile Homes would close by Jan. 1.
Ms. Tretola also said the cost of the sewer repair project was about $1.2 million and that the nonprofit was applying for $800,000 in grants to help pay for the work.
