Nick Jamison grew up in Gaslight Village, the mobile home park at 31st Street and Ousdahl Road.

As a boy, he lived near what is now Home Depot, and he still lives in the same trailer. At that time, the park was twice its current size, extending to Iowa Street.

Jamison, a nursing student at Neosho County Community College, said that the park included a pool, community building and basketball court.

“This used to a pretty big place,” he said, standing on the end of a row of rusted mobile homes. “It was a nice community.”

With the developer Aspen Heights seeking a contract to buy and redevelop the park, the diminished mobile home community could vanish all together. Aspen Heights, based in Austin, Texas, plans to replace the approximately 150 mobile homes with rental homes for students.

Before that can happen, the city must first re-zone the area. Then, Aspen Heights can negotiate a price with the owner of the mobile home park and begin construction.

A difficult decision looms

Jamison inherited his childhood home, a 1982 Skyline, from his grandparents, and he is currently remodeling it. Last month, park owners were scheduled to visit residents to discuss their options.

Mid-America Manufactured Housing Communities, which owns Gaslight Village, sent a letter to residents in November assuring them that space was available in other local mobile home parks. The letter also said that funds would be available to help with moving costs. A message left with company officials was not returned and repeated attempts to speak with them were unsuccessful.

Ideally, Jamison would like to buy some land in another county for the trailer as his parents had done years before. If that’s not an option, he’ll most likely move to another park.

Jamison’s trailer has already been moved twice: when his parents built a new home in Ottawa and when he moved back to the mobile home park. He paid $600 for just the towing fee. He leveled the trailer himself along with installing the plumbing and electrical.

“I used to work in construction, so it was pretty easy,” he said.

Jamison said it was unlikely that he would sell his trailer.

“It’s a lot like buying an automobile,” he said. “It’s not a good investment.”

Despite the low value, Jamison said it was perfect for a student.

“This is one of cheapest places to live, especially if you own your own trailer,” Jamison said. He estimated his lot rental was around $285 a month.

Easier decision for others

For 34-year-old Santiago Zaragoza, who has been a resident of Gaslight Village since July 2009, the decision to move his family was easier. He said Kansas was the sixth state he had lived in and had no problem re-adjusting.

“It’s in my blood to move,” he said.

Zaragoza said he had already visited with the manager of Riverside Mobile Home Community in north Lawrence. He said the manager was understanding of Zaragoza’s need to re-locate and offered a discount in rent for the first year.

Development on the horizon

Sandy Day, project planner for the city, said the 45-acre area of Gaslight Village would have to be re-zoned from single-family zoning to multi-family zoning before construction could begin. The developer will also need a permit to allow additional access to surrounding streets and utilities.

“We’re very early in the review process,” Day said.

She said the only major issue she saw with re-zoning the area would be securing adequate water access.

In December, the city received a special needs permit request. That request will go before a public hearing on Jan. 25 and then a vote by the City Commission around Feb. 14.

Jason Sherman, chief marketing officer at Aspen Heights, said the company chose the location because it provides easy access to campus, retail and other amenities. Aspen Heights plans to connect to the Naismith Valley Park Trail to provide a link for students who bike to campus.

The new housing complex should accommodate 994 students in two-, three- and four- bedroom duplexes and homes.

Though the future of Gaslight Village is still unclear, Zaragoza remains optimistic.

“We’ll move and be fine,” he said.

However, Jamison said he still has a lot to consider.

“I’m weighing my options,” he said.

— Edited by Taylor Lewis