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Redmond Residents Make 'Green Pastures' Their Own

KTVZ.com
By Mackenzie Wilson
March 22, 2010

In April 2008, the residents of the Green Pastures Mobile Home Park in Redmond were asked to form a cooperative and buy the place they called home.

Residents jumped at the opportunity, for fear of otherwise losing their homes.

Resident Dick Martin said the Green Pastures community just wasn't ready to give up and become a statistic.

"By reputation, a lot of mobile home parks are selling out to developers, and the residents are given 365 days to move out," Martin said Monday.

Phyllis LaPora says the process of buying the land from the Redmond and Bend humane societies was no easy task.

"There was a lot of paperwork, and a lot of going back and forth between the lender," she said, "But it was all interesting, and I learned a heck of a lot."

Residents bought the park for $1.4 million. Martin said each home contributed $500 to the cooperative, and a grant from the state of Oregon, along with other loans, were also utilized.

The purchase was finalized in October, and residents could not be happier.

"I feel very relieved and safe," said resident Mary Iverson. "I like it here very much."

This is apparently only the second time in Oregon that residents have banded together to buy a mobile home park.

"We are the first converted mobile home or manufactured home park east of the Cascades here in Oregon," Martin said.

The park has 50 spaces, and as of now, there are three spots open. LaPora said.

Green Pastures is close to everything a senior could need, and they say the bills aren't too bad either.

"The rent is great, $350 a month, and that includes water, sewer and garbage - can't beat that," LaPora said.

The Green Pastures community is most pleased with the security that comes form owning the park. They know that the park will never be bought out, and that's a major relief in these difficult times.