Hawthorne : Council OKs Relocation

The City Council this week upheld approval of a relocation plan for residents of Maury’s Trailer Park, but it provided a glimmer of hope that a relocation park could be established in the city for mobile home owners who are displaced and do not want to leave Hawthorne.

The City Council--with Councilman Steven Anderson absent and Mayor Betty Ainsworth abstaining--cleared the way for closure of the park but said it would explore assisting in development of a mobile home park that residents could own.

Mary Lee, an attorney with the Center for Law and Poverty representing the residents, argued unsuccessfully that the city has an obligation to maintain affordable housing--including mobile home parks--for the city’s low-income and elderly residents.

But the council said it would be unfair to delay sale of Maury’s any longer when the owners have met all city and state requirements to assist the displaced residents. The owners, Ben and Estelle Strauss of Huntington Beach, will pay up to $2,500 per coach in relocation assistance under the city plan.

The park in the 300 block of Rosecrans Avenue is being sold for commercial development.