My Community May Be Losing Our Homes- Help Me Protect Others From Ending Up Like Us

My name is Angela Kaufman. I live in a mobile home park. I moved into this affordable mobile home park community in Saratoga county in summer of 2020. My partner and I wanted a place we could afford considering my declining health and inconsistent income as a self-employed freelancer. I also wanted a place with a fenced in yard so I could do something I’ve always wanted to do- rescue dogs.

This past January, my neighbors and I received a certified letter indicating our park was being sold. This letter also notified us of our right of first refusal, which is guaranteed by real property law 233-A. The letter was sent to us by Brett VanZandt, then property owner. Even though less than six months prior, he showed us the park, encouraged us to make repairs and enhancements on our lot, and told us he planned to stay here a long time- even to retire here someday.

The right of first refusal- meaning that my neighbors and I could get together and make an offer matching the buyer’s offer in order to own and keep our mobile home park- only goes into effect if a buyer plans to change the use of a mobile home park.

In other words, if someone were to make an offer to buy the park you live in, and if they let your park owner know they plan to shut it down to build a…