Pines Trailer Park residents are holding out hope that a buyer might keep the property for mobile homes.
Residents failed in a drive to purchase the park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach.
The owner partnership, with Richard and William Jackson as officers, listed the 2.78-acre park for sale at $16 million in January but the price rose to at least $16.5 million.
By law, the partnership first had to offer the park to the resident owners.
Now the owners are entertaining offers from prospective buyers, a process operating under a veil of nondisclosure.
Bill Gorman, an agent representing the Pines Homeowners Association, would not disclose the potential business entities involved in the sale but did confirm at least two potential buyers have made bids.
Asked about the possibility a buyer would continue to operate the park, Gorman said he hoped that would happen for the sake of residents.
Gorman, president at Lifestyle Choice Realty Inc. of Casselberry, was retained by the HOA to represent their interests.
Homeowners formed a cooperative after the park partnership announced its intent to sell the land leased by residents.
Although Gorman and the HOA worked to negotiate the purchase of the park, their efforts proved unsuccessful.
“I think everything had to do with the fact that the community itself is an incredible location and the owner could demand a higher price than the worth of a normal mobile home park and the lenders were reluctant to make a loan on that basis,” Gorman said in an April 27 interview with The Islander.
A listing for the park, which abuts the Historic Bridge Street Pier, can be found on the website for Yale Realty & Capital Advisors at yaleadvisors.com.
“As a resident of the beautiful Pines Park, I am heartbroken,” Pines resident Linda Maerker wrote on Facebook regarding the failed bid.
She also wrote, “Pines Park is not just our homes, it’s our family. I appreciate all the kind words. As for the others, someday it will be you who are cast away because of your age or financial circumstances. I hope someone who can WILL HELP YOU.”