Resource

When faced with a seemingly impossible project, like building new housing for 140 students in three months, you need three things: A vision, a plan and focused synergy. It also helps if you know someone in the manufactured housing business. Here's a case in point...

California Baptist University is a 50-year-old private university located on an 82-acre campus in Riverside, California. With an ambitious building program underway, the current enrollment of 3,000 students is expected to increase to 8,000 within the next 15 years.

The University has a major multi-story dormitory planned. However, construction will not be completed for several years.

Faced with a sharp increase in enrollment, the University needed to do the impossible...during the summer break, build housing for 140 students!

The University contacted local manufactured housing producer Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. In addition to its corporate offices, Fleetwood has a manufactured housing factory located in Riverside.

Working together, the University and Fleetwood put together a concept and an action team.

Gary Pomeroy, founder of F.A.S.T. Building System working as a consultant, would coordinate the design and installation of 16 manufactured homes (5 bedrooms, three bathroom) to house 140 students.

Mr. Pomeroy coordinated the manufactured housing portion of the project working with the University Architect and Diffenbaugh Construction who would construct all of the non-manufactured housing portions of the project.

The consulting activities provided to California Baptist University by F.A.S.T. Building Systems included exterior home design including the integrated front porch concept, which led to the project name The Cottages at Cal Baptist University. The craftsman style manufactured home and integrated porch was the starting point architect Thomas Riggle used to design 16 unique front porches, creating a village like atmosphere for the students. Mr. Pomeroy also interviewed and supervised the home installer, masonry contractor, air conditioning contractor and front porch fabricator.

Homes of the West, L.L.C. and its owner David L. Gibbs were selected to act as the manufactured home dealer working with Fleetwood Homes on the production and timely delivery of the homes. Homes of the West, L.L.C. also worked closely with the University's financing source, U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance, Inc. to complete a unique financing program for the University.

Homes of the West was pleased to participate in the project, and donated the homes and its services at their cost to allow the University to complete the first phase of the project within its budget and in time for new students arriving in the fall of 2004. The second phase, scheduled for delivery in February and March 2005, consists of an additional six homes. Homes in the second phase will be built by Silvercrest/Western Homes Corporation of Corona, California.

In order to accommodate students arriving in late August, Cal Baptist was aided by the willingness of the City of Riverside to fast track the approval process and authorize overtime and weekend work in order to meet a very difficult deadline. The first manufactured home arrived the first week in July and by the last week in August 110 students had moved in. The initial number of students was estimated to be only 100. The project was planned in two phases, about equal in numbers (12 first phase, 10 second phase) but increased student enrollment caused the initial phase to be 16 units (80 bedrooms). The second phase of 6 units is scheduled to be completed early in 2005.

High value and speed to project completion were keys to the University's choice of manufactured housing for the Cottages project. Speed to product completion was enhanced by the professional support the project received from the City of Riverside Planning Department. Working together, the University, the City and the industry made the impossible possible...housing for 140 students in about ninety days!

The Cottages at Cal Baptist University emphasis on a central courtyard and a craftsman style streetscape created a "Welcome Home" atmosphere for the students. Each of the student housing units has a small living area and kitchen and the student bedrooms are larger than the typical dormitory rooms available elsewhere on campus.

Students today, particularly at private colleges and universities expect better housing than historically provided. With manufactured homes, Cal Baptist has provided the right mix of quality housing and hometown lifestyle at the Cottages and for 140 students it's...Welcome Home!

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RENAISSANCE IN BELLFLOWER

by Jess Maxcy

Revitalizing old trailer courts has been an on-going challenge for the manufactured housing industry in California.

Given the large number of trailer courts and aged mobile home parks that need to upgrade, some see an insurmountable challenge while others see opportunity. Case in point, Palm Vista in Bellflower, California...

In February of 2003 David Gough, President of Pacific Real Estate Investment Group, purchased a very aged Flora Vista Trailer Park and a much needed metamorphose began.

With the aid of a $500,000 grant from the City of Bellflower, 22 obsolete trailers and 4 bungalows were removed from the blighted park. The new development, renamed Palm Vista, consists of 15 two-story homes manufactured by Fleetwood Homes in Riverside. Three of the homes are to be sold in accordance with the city's affordable housing program (buyers who earn no more than 80% of the area's median income).

The selling price (when established) for the 1200 S.F., 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes with garages will include a pre-paid 99 year lease which qualifies them for Freddie Mac's Leasehold Estate Program.

Palm Vista demonstrates the flexibility of manufactured housing when used for in-fill projects and small lot developments.

So, challenge or opportunity? If Palm Vista represents opportunity then there are hundreds more throughout California where you can be a part of the RENAISSANCE movement!