Photo of The Meadows obtained from Realtor.com website
Irvine’s mobile home park for seniors, The Meadows, near Jeffrey Road and Walnut Avenue, is as old as the City itself. For more than 50 years, it has been an idyllic and tight-knit community.
However, there now seems to be trouble in paradise. A fraying of community ties caused by two years of pandemic and social isolation continues. And a decision to double the space rental rate for new residents has ignited fears of future rent increases for existing residents.
Rumors of an impending redevelopment of the park are terrifying the very low-income longtime residents of the mobile home park — even though the rumors have been denied by the park’s owner, the nonprofit organization Jamboree Housing Corporation. And, a recent survey by a residents’ group found widespread anger and mistrust with the park’s management by Newport Properties, the agents of Jamboree Housing Corporation.
Meanwhile, a wave of inspections of the park’s residences by the City, which resulted in notices requesting fixes, has further roiled residents.
The park’s troubles made it to the City Council at its September 10th meeting, with Vice Mayor Larry Agran noting that his office has been fielding a number of calls from concerned residents of The Meadows. Agran requested that Councilmembers hear from the residents, park officials, and City staff about the matter.
“There have been a number of problems at The Meadows that have been discussed quietly for over a year but have not been resolved,” Agran said, adding that the Council meeting was “an opportunity for discussion.”
During the discussion, residents spoke about their concerns and fears, while park representatives sought to reassure the residents and the Council.
“The community has really been just flattened out emotionally,” said resident Ron Galasso. “This has been compounded by the multiple inspections, the doubling of rent (from $800 to more than $1,600 per month) for new tenants that affects the market value of our homes. It all raises concerns about where are we going … what’s going to happen?”
Representatives of the official homeowners’ association and the owner of the park tried to assuage the concerns. Michael Massie, executive vice president and chief development officer of Jamboree Housing, stated: “There are no plans to double the rents on existing residents in The Meadows. There are no plans, or even thoughts or discussions, to change the age restrictions. There are no plans to redevelop, sell or otherwise dispose of the park. That I want to make absolutely clear.”
Mayor Farrah Khan asked what rent increases on existing residents would be allowed under the park’s regulatory agreement as a low-income housing provider. Massie said Jamboree will not do anything differently than it has been doing since it acquired The Meadows in 1998, with rent increases averaging about 1% annually over that time.
Massie did acknowledge that Jamboree is “at the very beginning” of a process of deciding how to proceed when the current regulatory agreement expires in 2028, but said Jamboree’s mission is low-income housing and nothing will be done without full discussions with residents, the City and other stakeholders.
City Councilmember Tammy Kim questioned whether the City should be involved in a matter she characterized as “an ongoing dispute between residents” best left to the homeowners’ association.
Khan replied, “HOAs are great when they work, not great when they don’t. We try to resolve issues when they come up.”
“There is a role for the City to play here, a mediation role,” said Agran. “I hope the City will play a constructive role, as it has in the past … and address the economic issues to achieve a long-term resolution.”
Agran then moved to have the City Manager and staff work with the parties on a resolution of all outstanding issues and report back to the Council in 60 days. The motion passed 5-0.
