Alarcón comes up with a plan to help fire-ravaged Oakridge Mobile Home Park back on its feet

SLUMP: Many lots at once-full park have been empty since Sayre Fire.

A city plan to buy 60 manufactured homes to use as affordable housing units in Sylmar's struggling Oakridge Mobile Home Park received preliminary backing Wednesday.

The city would pay nearly $9.3 million for the homes, which would help Oakridge get through difficult financial times following the devastating 2008 Sayre Fire that destroyed 600 units.

The fire was followed by a slump in housing prices, so many lots at the once-full park are empty.

Under the plan, the city-run Los Angeles Housing Department would invest $9.3 million to buy the homes, which would be rented out.

The proposal received the approval of the Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee and now goes to the City Council for final approval.

The Oakridge Mobile Home Park became the most visible symbol of the destructive wildfire.

"The fire happened at the same time as housing prices began to drop," Councilman Richard Alarc�n said Wednesday. "Today, people can buy a home for about the same price as for manufactured housing.

"Oakridge has built a beautiful community center, but found it difficult to get people to move in. This was once a thriving community with 600 homes and now there are only about 200 there."

Myron Reichert, one of the partners in Continental Mobile Housing that owns the park located at 15444 Glenoaks Blvd., Sylmar, said it has been difficult ever since the fire.

"We're still not breaking

even," Reichert said. "Of all the people we had there to start with, only 20 percent of them have moved back. The question of getting new people in, it has been extremely difficult."

He said they are hopeful the city plan does come together soon and will serve as an incentive to bring in more residents.

"They are nicer than some of the apartments in the area," Alarc�n said. "We are enabling the park owners to provide affordable housing and stay in business." A new community center has been built and the plans call for a media room, a library, a card room, billiards, a meeting room, a conference room and assembly hall, along with a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, tennis courts and a dog park.

Housing Department officials said the houses, with up to three bedrooms, will be built throughout the site and are designed for families with annual incomes in the $40,000 range.

Alarc�n said he hopes to see teachers, police officers and firefighters move into the homes.

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