AFFORDABLE HOUSING... IT COULD BE A WALK IN THE PARK

A mobile home park that is. A shining example being Quail Run; an age-restricted, gated mobile home park on the east side of Paso Robles. This is a housing complex characterized by sweeping lawns and lush, well-tended gardens. The streets are clean, and manicured parkways lead to a modern looking clubhouse with swimming pool, spa and tennis courts. Residents own their own lot and pay a modest homeowner association fee rather than space rent.

Two-car garages and sunken foundations replace the ubiquitous carports and tin skirting so commonly found in traditional mobile home parks. It's difficult to tell, at first glance, that these are in fact mobile homes. The lots range in size from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet (standard mobile home parks feature lots anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet). The terrain is gently rolling, so as you drive through this unique community you're rewarded with hints of distant views enjoyed by those homesites that sit higher than the street. The topography is just one more element that betrays the standard "trailer park" design and sets this community apart.

What if we created parks like this in San Luis Obispo and other cities in the county? What if we opened these parks to families as well as the over-55 crowd? The technology in mobile homes today is far improved from that of the 1970 double-wides with expandos. Dry wall has replaced fake wood paneling and today these homes offer modern amenities found in mainstream, site-built homes tract and custom homes. Furthermore today's mobile homes (or "modular homes", thank you) can be purchased at up to 1/3 the cost of most tract homes.

Obviously there would need to be rules in place to maintain peaceful cohabitation among residents; just like we have now in most tract developments. Designated parking areas could handle extra vehicles and small parks with playgrounds could offer a communal backyard for kids to play in safely. Hey, we're already doing THAT also! The land would be the most expensive component, however with the reduced building costs these homes could quite possibly cost only between $300,000 and $400,000.

There's no reason such communities need to be a visual blight on the landscape, or suffer the stigma long endured by more traditional mobile home parks. Certainly our advances in civil engineering and design could mitigate most aesthetic concerns. If you have any doubts about this take a drive up to Paso Robles and visit Quail Run. Imagine well-planned common areas, creative and thoughtful landscape standards, and a unique sense of community. Imagine thinking outside the "box" (pun intended) to an alternative that could provide affordable housing AND a walk in the park!