Farrington's residents make offer to buy park

Residents of Farrington's Mobile Home Park on Friday made an offer to purchase the New North End park from the Farrington family.

"The residents have tendered a bid to the owners of the park that they consider fair to Farrington's," said Andy Danforth of New England Resident Owned Communities (NEROC), a nonprofit that helps residents convert mobile home parks into co-ops.

Those close to the negotiations declined to disclose details about the offer, citing confidentiality concerns. Tenant Roy Collette said residents voted Monday night to make the offer, and said he is confident the Farringtons will accept.

The Farrington family last November decided to sell the 11-acre property and put it on the market for $5 million. Residents, who own their mobile homes but rent the land on which they sit, decided to band together and attempt to purchase the property.

The park, on North Avenue across from the Ethan Allen Shopping Center, has 120 lots. Dating back to 1923, the park is the oldest mobile home community in Vermont.

Both the city and a regional nonprofit have provided technical assistance to the residents. Friday was the deadline by which residents had to make an offer. The Farrington family will now evaluate the offer, which it could accept, reject or counter. Rob Farrington did not respond to requests for comment.

Mayor Miro Weinberger said the city is supportive of residents' attempt to purchase the land. He said the city has provided technical assistance to residents and would be willing to pay for badly needed infrastructure improvements through the Housing Trust Fund.

"We also are involved as a party that may be part of the financing solution," the mayor said.

Weinberger declined to speculate on how close the two parties may be toward an agreement, as negotiations are ongoing.

Danforth said NEROC is also providing assistance to residents. His organization has helped tenants convert more than 20 mobile home parks in New York and New England into member-owned co-ops, including a handful in Vermont.

He added that NEROC has helped residents of Farrington's secure financing from Vermont lenders at low interest rates and could potentially connect the group with other sources of capital.

"The big part of what we do is help them get financing," Danforth said.

City councilor David Hartnett, I-North District, who represents the New North End, said the plan for residents to purchase the land is the best outcome. He said the mobile home park is one of many diverse neighborhoods in the New North End.

"There's a lot of history there," Hartnett said. "There are lots of great family traditions, and generations of kids from there have gone to our great schools."

Hartnett added that resident-owned mobile home communities have worked in other municipalities like Shelburne and Colchester.