Rezoning Could Spell End to Raleigh Mobile-Home Park

Raleigh, N.C. — A plan to bring new development to north Raleigh could leave more than 160 residents of a mobile-home park looking for a new place to live.

A prospective buyer wants city officials to rezone the Homestead Village Mobile Home Community, a 38.5-acre property off Capital Boulevard, near Jacqueline Drive. The rezoning would allow a shopping center, offices, apartments and single-family residences.

"If zoning is approved and site plans are approved, it's anticipated the property will be sold and re-developed," said David York, an attorney for the prospective buyer of the mobile-home park.

Although they may own their own mobile homes, residents rent the lots on which their homes sit in Homestead Village, owned by Robert and Katherine Binns.

Many residents said they fear they will be forced out of their community if the property is sold.

"I can't see this neighborhood destroyed. We've lived here too long," said Claudia Snow, who has lived in the Homestead park for 34 years.

Resident Loida Guerrero said it might be too expensive to move her mobile home, which she bought a month ago.

"(We don't) know what we're going to do, especially because we're young, and we just bought our home," Guerrero said. "It's such a short time, we don't know about money-wise and everything."

The prospective buyer is trying to help residents find other options, York said.

Robert Binns said that he "felt bad" for the residents and that health problems factored into his decision to sell the park, which he has owned since 1979.

"I'm 70 years old. I'm on oxygen," Binns said. "It's rental property. It's time for me to get rid of it."

Binns, who implied that he has been hospitalized several times in recent years, said he did not want to leave the burden of operating the park to his wife.

The potential buyer said development on the property would not begin until next year. Binns said he will not sell until the rezoning process is completed.

The Raleigh City Planning Commission issued a draft recommendation backing the rezoning. The committee has until July 22 to issue its final recommendation to the City Council.

Council members must approve the rezoning.