On March 31, the 247 homeowners of Oak Hill MHC exercised that right and became the Oak Hill Taunton Residents Association. One member even called Pacheco to thank him for his sponsorship of that legislation nearly 25 years later. “Sometimes residents choose not to exercise that right. But in this case they did and it made all the difference in the world and I’m so happy about it,” Pacheco said Thursday evening.
Pacheco originally introduced the legislation in response to the proposed sale and redevelopment of Pine Hill Estates MHC in Raynham, Mass., which would have forced the residents to relocate.
The measure requires community owners allow the residents buy the property at the same price as a purchase offer, providing 51 percent of the residents agree to the transaction.
Mike Bullard, communications and marketing manager for ROC USA, a nonprofit organization that helped the residents with the purchase, and as MHProNews knows will continue to offer guidance, said previous owner Oak Hill Associates LLC took the case to land court to decide if the new owner should be a private buyer or the residents.
The court sided with the residents, 80 percent of whom became association members before the deal was done, indicating overwhelming support for ownership.
ROC USA Capital Managing Director Michael Sloss said, “We’re excited that the preservation of the homes in Oak Hill through affordable, fixed-rate community financing will have lasting impact in Taunton.”
Meanwhile, Pine Village residents did not buy their community, but the new owners did not develop the land either. ##
(Photo credit:ROC USA)
