SAN JOSE, Calif. (January 6, 2020) – The Nicholson family, who has been invested in San Jose and the greater Bay Area for nearly two centuries through public service, philanthropy and land stewardship; announced today it has been exploring options to find safer, more stable and more viable long-term housing options to protect Westwind Mobile Home Park residents from being displaced by MHC Operating Limited Partnership. MHC is a subsidiary of Chicago-based Equity Lifestyle Properties, one of the largest owners of mobile home parks in the U.S.
Nearly 50 years ago, the Nicholson family leased acreage it acquired in 1868 to a local developer who created four separate mobile home parks, now known as the Westwinds Mobile Home Park, and a retail center, as interim uses in North San Jose. MHC is the owner and operator of the Park, and landlord of the Park’s residents. In 2019, well before the date that the land leases are set to expire in the summer of 2022, the Nicholsons proactively contacted MHC to engage in discussions about transitioning control back to the family and finding a longer-term plan to protect current residents from being removed.
“The well-being and stability of the Westwind Mobile Home Park residents is our paramount priority,” said Bruce Nicholson, Co-Manager of the Nicholson Family Partnership. “MHC has been unwilling to collaborate to find a long-term solution for the tenants, taking the unfortunate position that it has no obligation whatsoever to its tenants or to us when the land leases expire. Instead, in a ‘bait-and-switch’ maneuver, they filed a meritless lawsuit falsely claiming that the Nicholson family is causing closure of MHC’s mobile home park business and must be compelled to keep it open.
To clarify, the Nicholson family has no involvement in the ownership or operation of the mobile home park or the retail center, and we have no desire, nor do we even possess the legal ability, to remove any of the residents under the current land leases held by MHC,” added Nicholson. “We find it shameful that they have opted to incite panic and fear among mobile home residents as part of the company’s legal strategy. That being said, the Nicholson family wants to unequivocally reassure the residents that we are on their side; completely sympathetic to their situation and have no plans whatsoever to displace anyone.”
The Nicholson Family’s Future Plans For the Land
The Nicholson family has remained and continues to be completely open to work with all stakeholders through a collaborative process to find a fair and equitable way for current residents to remain on the property well beyond the expiration of the land leases in 2022.
“Our family intends to continue owning the property for many generations to come, and cares deeply about its future use as well as the community at large,” said Nicholson.
“We are invested in San Jose and its future. We recognize the housing crisis our region faces and believe the long-term use of the property has the ability to house not only existing residents but can be potentially redeveloped over many decades to create even more permanent housing opportunities, including truly affordable housing. While we have no current plans for redevelopment, we recognize the benefits of the recent Winchester mobile home park redevelopment plan that was a win-win for the community as a whole.”
About the Nicholson Family
The Nicholson family is deeply invested in San Jose, Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area with roots planted nearly two centuries ago when the family first arrived in the region. Bill Nicholson, part of the second Bay Area-born generation, created a legacy throughout the Valley through his construction business, with hundreds of civic and community buildings, which included churches, schools, industrial parks, Mission College, Milpitas City Hall and buildings for the Valley Transportation Authority and West Valley College. The family built a tradition of volunteering and paying it forward, including launching The Nicholson Family Foundation, which has funded more than 180 organizations in the greater San Francisco, Santa Clara County and Monterey Bay regions. For more information, visit www.thenicholsonranch.com