Allendale Pines Completes Capital Improvements, Expands
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than a year after the Mobile Home Rent Control Board approved a rate increase for Allendale Pines, promised improvements have been made and the trailer park has expanded.
Board members received an update on the repairs Monday from Brent White of White Engineering in Pittsfield.
White said D.R. Billings Inc. was hired soon after the rent increase was approved to replace the water and sewer lines throughout the park and repave its existing road system.
He showed the board a drone video of the improvements, displaying restored lawns and paved roads.
"A picture is worth 1,000 words," White said. "And I think this just goes to show that everything that we had committed to when the rent increase was requested and granted has been followed through on."
Board member Alisa Costa said she was pleased with the presentation.
"I do think it looks great, you have fulfilled all the requirements," she said. "I really appreciate that, I love that we now have drones and we got that great bird's eye view."
The three-phase rent increase of $120 was OK'd back in October 2020 to facilitate the capital improvements to the community. This included repaving the roads, reconstructing the water system, and repairing the sewer lines.
The increases started at $50 in the first year and second years and $20 in the third year to raise the lot rent from $220 in 2020 to $340 in 2023. The first increase occurred in April.
Only $68 of the $120 would be a permanent increase and the other $52 would expire at the end of 20 years. The $68 increase would match the projected rate of investment. It would only support the operating expenses of the park and does not include any amortization, owners said.
Along with the completion of capital improvements, the park added 10 new homes to its stock. This was allowed by a special permit that was obtained over the summer.
Nine homes are set to be on a northward expansion of the park and one was built on an existing lot. A majority of the homes are complete and the last is expected to be delivered this month.
Of the nine homes, six have sold, the seventh is being negotiated, and it is anticipated that the rest will go quickly.
Property manager Teton Management's website lists two remaining homes at Allendale Pines: a double-wide, three bedroom and two bath for a little over $119,000 without sales tax and a larger, three-bedroom and two-bath mobile home for about $145,000 without sales tax.
A resident called into the meeting to inquire about a final coat of pavement on the driveways and was assured that there will be one. He said the improvements "look good."
The board requested documentation of completion, which will be provided after signed off by the city and project engineers.
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