Rent hikes prompt moving

***FOR THE RECORD: In the April 11 article “Rent hikes prompt moving,” the mobile home park two blocks from Anchor Trailer park is Harbor Mobile Homes. ***

Tenants of Costa Mesa’s Anchor Trailer Park are upset about sharp rent increases they fear will force a number of residents from their homes.

The small park of about 30 residences off of Newport Boulevard in downtown Costa Mesa was once a great place to live, resident Jeanne McMahon said. She works nearby, and her grandkids are close enough for the frequent visits she cherishes.

But now, with a 20% increase in her rent, she can’t decide whether to cut her losses and leave, or endure the increased hit on her limited income.

“I have no idea what I’ll do,” she said. “I’m in a low-income bracket, and even though that’s not a lot of rent for a home in this area, it’s a lot for this park, and a big increase.”

Adrienne Watkins, her neighbor, said her monthly rent went from $660 to $825 last year and that it will rise to $990 a month by July. She too, lives in the park to be close to her family, but added the decision to choose between her medications and paying the rent was a no-brainer.

“I have a choice between paying my rent or buying my prescriptions — and you know what the price of gas is; I don’t even have to mention that,” she said. “I’m going to have to move out.”

Attempts to reach V2 Ventures Acquisitions & Development Company, the property owner responsible for the increase, were unsuccessful.

However, a representative of the property’s Yorba Linda management company, J & H Asset Property Management, said the increase was the result of careful consideration by the park’s owners.

“Basically, we examined the highs and lows of other parks, along with other areas we feel we can compare to, and then a cost is determined based on the owner’s costs to operate and to maintain their facility,” J&H; Property Manager Joe Levy said.

Anchor’s residents are particularly concerned that the increase isn’t simply to keep the park afloat in a rising sea of costs, but an underhanded move by the park’s new owners to push residents out and develop the property for more profitable usage.

Levy seemed incredulous when asked to comment on the allegations.

“I don’t have a comment on that,” he said.

A number of local mobile home dealers familiar with the Newport-Mesa market said they thought the rates were unusually high for a park like Anchor. Newport Mobile Homes — a park two blocks from Anchor Trailer Park, with similar amenities and aesthetics — offers cheaper rents by about $300 to $375 a month.

Listings also reveal that nearby Newport Terrace Mobile Home Park have available lots at about the same amount that Watkins pays at Anchor — $1,000 — though that park includes amenities like a large pool, a club house and barbecue grills.

“Where’s our clubhouse?” Watkins said. “I’m just saying, for the money we have to pay, that’s ridiculous.”

Levy said he couldn’t specifically identify what new maintenance costs prompted the sharp rent increase, though he acknowledged such projects would be the responsibility of his office.

He further declined to comment on the difference in rents between Anchor and other nearby mobile home parks.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].