April Burbank

Free Press Staff Writer

Residents of Farrington's Mobile Home Park in Burlington, which is being sold, have indicated that they're interested in buying the land together.

Among 50 households present at a meeting Tuesday, 38 said they were interested in purchasing the park as a co-operative, said Sarah Woodward, program director for the mobile home program at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.

Tuesday's poll will set the direction of the discussions in the next month, Woodward said.

Under state law, residents have a limited time to file a formal petition if they're interested in co-op or nonprofit ownership of the 11-acre park. Otherwise, they can wait to see what happens with a private for-profit buyer.

That window of opportunity was originally set to expire Jan. 5, but has been extended to Jan. 22, Woodward said, because some mobile home residents were formally notified later than others about the impending sale.

"Between today and the 22nd of January, I think it's going to be a big educational effort," Woodward said. "It's scary, it's a big commitment. ... Where I'm coming from is to offer people information so they feel informed about entering into a certain approach."

Mayor Miro Weinberger, who was present at Tuesday's meeting, called it "well-organized and productive."

"We will do everything we can to support the residents in whatever direction they choose to go," Weinberger said. The city can contribute staff time, the mayor said, and use money from the housing trust fund for an appraisal or other steps that would help the residents make a decision.

The next neighborhood meeting has been tentatively scheduled for early January, Woodward said.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Contact April Burbank at (802) 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank