Seattle - Just in time for the holidays, the King County Housing Authority purchased Wonderland Estates for $8.4 million. By acquiring the property, the Housing Authority has ensured that the mobile home park will be preserved for its senior residents, many of whom live on fixed incomes.

"In this season of hope, it's great to be able to tell the residents, many with nowhere else to go, that they won't lose their homes," said Stephen Norman, KCHA's executive director. "With mobile home parks threatened with closure all around the state, it is critical to save these important local affordable housing resources. Wonderland has a terrific group of residents who did everything in their power to save their community from demolition."

Residents at Wonderland Estates organized the effort to save their homes in 2006, shortly after receiving a two-year notice to vacate the property from the owner. At first, the residents planned to buy the park themselves and run it as a cooperative. When that effort didn't work out, they began meeting with city, county, and state elected officials concerning their plight. They received strong support from King County Executive Ron Sims, Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker, the Renton City Council, and the King County Council, particularly Councilmember Reagan Dunn, in whose district the park is located. The Housing Authority got involved at the request of Executive Sims.

Wonderland Estates residents would have had to vacate the park by August 2008 had the King County Housing Authority not been able to come to terms with the owner of the park.

The 109-space mobile home park, located just east of Renton off the Maple Valley Highway, was considered prime property for redevelopment into for-sale homes or condominiums. The acquisition financing was particularly challenging because the value of the land as a subdivision is substantially higher than its value as an older mobile home park. However, the Housing Authority was able to pull together a deal to save this critically needed housing from the wrecking ball.

"It was very important that the Wonderland Estates are preserved to ensure that long-time residents can continue to live in their homes," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "I want to commend the work of the King County Housing Authority as well as congratulate the residents for their steadfast commitment to keeping Wonderland Estates open. Thank you also to the leadership of Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker, the Renton Housing Authority, and King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn for their hands-on involvement with this effort and help in making it a reality. Together, we were able to preserve homes for many seniors on fixed incomes, who otherwise would not have an alternate place to live."

Said Councilmember Reagan Dunn, "This is an example of government at its best -- dealing with problems before they get worse. Without this deal, a hundred seniors would face homelessness next year. Instead, we are helping homeowners keep their homes. We'll see them in a grocery store line instead of the soup line. That's something to celebrate for the holidays."

Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker is also pleased that Wonderland residents can remain in the community. "Last summer, when the residents of Wonderland Estates found out the land their homes sat on was suddenly up for sale, they came to the city of Renton to ask for our help," said Mayor Keolker. "Even though their mobile home park was just outside Renton city limits, it was important for all of us in Renton, and to me personally, to find a solution and to save their homes. I am thrilled that we were able to work together and that the King County Housing Authority was successful in purchasing Wonderland Estates and preventing the displacement of over 100 people from their homes. Residents of the Wonderland community can now continue to live independently, while remaining close to their families and friends in the community."

State Sen. Margarita Prentice was pleased that she could help save this critically needed housing. "Places like Wonderland are so hard to keep nowadays," said Sen. Prentice. "I've always admired the people who live there. They come from a generation that lives within their means; they look after one another like a true community. It's really great that government was able to step in and do the right thing."

Wonderland residents also think that KCHA's purchase of Wonderland Estates was the right thing to do.

"It was a long and difficult process, and we're grateful for the outcome," said Don Charnley, president of the park's communications committee. "We have a lot of people to thank -- Councilmember Dunn, Mayor Keolker, the King County Housing Authority, and many others. Everybody here is just ecstatic. You can bet this will be a happy community for a long, long time."

KCHA administers a range of quality affordable rental and homeownership programs for residents of King County. The Authority serves more than 17,000 households daily, including family, elderly, and disabled households. There are more than 8,000 households living in mobile home parks in King County. Many are threatened with closure. Preservation of existing affordable housing is a core mission for the Authority. KCHA recently stepped in to preserve 162 units of rental housing slated for demolition near SeaTac airport.