As MHProNews reported April 25, 2014, Stonecliff Properties was replacing the infrastructure at its Port Edward manufactured home community (MHC) in the far northwest of British Columbia, Canada in Port Edward, just south of Alaska. Stonecliff restricted access to the community to work vehicles and equipment only, from April 28 to the end of October. Residents will have to park outside the grounds and will be escorted to their homes during work hours; those with mobility issues will be driven in a golf cart.

At the time, residents were angered and threatened a lawsuit, claiming Stonecliff was violating the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. Stonecliff responded that all the roads have to be dug up to replace the water and sewer lines.

“There will be 24-hour access for residents, but when construction equipment is working people will be escorted through the site. Everyone has access to the site all the time, but they will be walked around while on the site for safety reasons,” said a Stonecliff spokesperson.

Wed., Dec 10, 20 months later, bailiffs acting on a BC Supreme Court order and representing Stonecliff appeared with eviction notices for the residents and their property, accompanied by several Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), sent to keep the peace.

Residents were notified of the eviction notice Aug. 22, 2014, and were advised again 12 months in advance. At that time, Stonecliff decided to close the community because of the high cost of repairing the infrastructure.

President of Stonecliff Victoria Beattie realizes the timing of the eviction, right before Christmas, is terrible but the date was set by the court. The community was losing $10,000 to $15,000 monthly, according to a spokesperson.

Residents had complained in the past year about the construction restrictions, and alleged harassment over rent and moving residents’ property to facilitate the upgrades, according to bclocalnews.

Stonecliff attorney Michael Gemmiti wrote in a statement, “Every tenant was aware of the consequences of not allowing the required repairs. Each tenant received due process under the law. There are no further appeals that can be made. Stonecliff did not intend or foresee this unfortunate result when it purchased the park in 2013.”

Meanwhile, as cftk-tv informs MHProNews, under BC law there is no requirement that the owner of the property has to help pay relocation expenses to the dozen+ residents of the community. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the residents. ##

(Photo credit: bclocalnews/Kevin Campbell-bailiffs representing Stonecliff serving eviction notices, accompanied by RCMP.)

Article submitted by Matthew J. Silver to Daily Business News-MHProNews.