Golden Transcript 020322

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Week of February 3, 2022

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

GoldenTranscript.net

VOLUME 156 | ISSUE 7

Golden Hills residents hit with third rejection Mining permit Mobile home park operator decision pushed leaves residents frustrated, frightened, baffled to March 31 BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY DGRIGSBY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An abrupt about-face by Harmony Communities, a California-based mobile home park operator, has left Golden Hills Mobile Home Park residents who hoped to purchase the community in which they live frustrated, frightened—and baffled. ”Right now, we’re coming off the third attempt to purchase the trailer park we live in; and each attempt has been a little more frustrating than the one that came before,” said Heather Malone, resident and vice president of the Golden Hills cooperative, a group of her fellow homeowners who want to buy and operate the 38-unit community themselves. ”We feel like we’ve been closer each time, but then something always seems to go wrong at the last minute, and it falls through,” she said. Ann Norton, one of the attorneys representing the cooperative, said Harmony Communities purchased the Golden Hills property in November 2021. Shortly after that, residents received a notice of the company’s intent to increase lot rent—in some cases, by as much as 50%. In addition, residents were presented with a 12-page list of changes to community rules and regulations, many of which Norton called ”quite onerous.” The proposed changes included several rules that require pricey modifications to homes, such as the addition of awnings. But then, in December, just four weeks after purchasing the park, Harmony Communities turned around and notified Golden Hills

Public comment reopened, ‘hundreds’ of objections submitted, says group BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY DGRIGSBY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

guard.” While Norton said residents hope channels of communication with Harmony are still open, the bigger point is that they are now back in the position of not being able to purchase the property. And that packs a significant wallop for those in need of affordable housing in Golden. Located in the North Historic Neighborhood, Golden Hills was established in 1947 and spans an entire city block. Many residents have lived there for 20 to 30 years, creating a very stable community in which to live, work and raise a family—and age in place. Mobile home parks are the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing across the nation, especially in Golden. Under current state law, there is no limit to the amount of rent that can be charged, explained Norton. For the residents of Golden Hills, the first rent increase was substantial.

The small group of Golden residents hoping to spotlight Denver Brick Company’s plans to expand its existing state land trust lease by nearly tenfold has garnered a breather. A Jan. 31 decision to approve the Fort Worth-based corporation’s request to convert its existing 110 Limited Impact mine permit to a 112 Reclamation permit has been delayed until March 31 by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety This is the second time DRMS has postponed the decision. Mike Rawluk, Golden resident and Protect the Hogback board member, said the grassroots organization is encouraged with the delay and hopeful the new date is an indication their request for a hearing may be granted. Protect the Hogback is a nonprofit organization created by Golden residents and businesses to oppose DBC’s expansion of the hogback clay mine immediately north of the city. After a story on the mine ran in the Jan. 5 Golden Transcript, Rawluk said DBC reopened its public comment period through Jan. 19. A Jan. 20 email from PTH states ”hundreds of objections” were

SEE REJECTION, P6

SEE MINING, P3

Heather Malone, center, says her home in the Golden Hills Mobile Home Park is the only place where her family can remain together under one roof. A substantial increase in lot rent by the park’s new owners has stretched the family’s budget to the max. She says any future increase would likely displace her family, splitting her PHOTO BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY husband James and their three children up among relatives.

residents of their intent to now sell. By a state law passed in 2020, mobile home park operators must notify and negotiate in good faith with the residents should they wish to purchase the property. The notice sent the residents scrambling. However, Joyce Tanner, the Golden Hills co-op president, said they were fortunate because they had twice prepared offers for the previous owners. Norton said residents matched the terms of purchase they were led would be acceptable and tendered their offer in early January 2022. “This was not a lowball offer, by any means,” she said. After the offer was submitted, Harmony suddenly decided not to sell. Tanner said there was ”some back and forth over the terms, but they came to us—we pulled an offer together, and we were communicating with them, and then it was just an abrupt change.” ”It really took the rug out from under the residents,” said Norton. “They were completely caught off

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 16

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