The homeowner leaders of the newly formed Milner Park Community Cooperative are in active negotiations with the out-of-state investor/owner trying to purchase the Milner Mobile Home Park property. But negotiations currently find the two sides more than $2 million apart.

“We are trying to preserve goodwill with the current owner, and we are in active negotiations,” said Alex Gano, the community’s pro bono real estate attorney with New Communities Law in Denver. “The current owner and the residents are working to arrive at a mutually acceptable purchase price for the park. We are hopeful we are going to get this done.”

The community recently submitted a purchase offer of $5.7 million that was not accepted. The group heard back on Friday that the counteroffer from the property owner is currently $7.75 million.

“I’m devastated. I’m heartbroken,” co-op member Misty Carter said Friday. “It’s frustrating to get this far; this counteroffer has to be in good faith.”

The investor-owner MHS Parks, headquartered near San Antonio, Texas, announced on July 24 a plan to put the community up for sale for $8 million, more than double what the approximately 10-acre park last sold for in 2021, according to park leaders.

Based on a previous 120-day legal notice, the park residents have until Nov. 21 to come to a purchase agreement with the park owner before the property would go on the open real estate market. The homeowners are concerned that if the property is sold to another investor at the elevated price, their lot rents will become unaffordable.

After the park sold in 2021, lot rents increased from $500 when there was an on-site owner, to $735 after the investor purchase and then to $925 on Aug. 1, according to park manager Nicole Nanio.

“This is part of a normal back-and-forth negotiations deal,” said Executive Director Jason Peasley with Yampa Valley Housing Authority, which is providing some technical assistance to the homeowners. “I personally remain hopeful that we will get to the finish line, that the residents are able to purchase the park, and it’s affordable to them.”

For anyone who might like to help the homeowners purchase the land under their homes, tax-deductible donations can be made through nonprofit Yampa Valley Community Foundation via the Routt County Workforce Housing Preservation Fund at YVCF.org/workforce. If donated funds are not needed for Milner Mobile Home Park, donations would be used toward the purchase, preservation or emergency capital improvements of other mobile home parks or low-income housing in Routt County.

The community foundation also is working to connect the homeowner co-op with a low-interest philanthropic loan program to assist with the purchase.

“Our mission is about preserving the qualities we all want to see stay in the Yampa Valley,” said Tim Wohlgenant, CEO of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.

Attorney Gano said the homeowners intend to respond to the high counteroffer by the end of this week.

The Milner homeowner group has received some community support through donations as well as attendance at a fundraiser in September called SOS, or Saving Our Steamboat One Neighborhood at a Time.

Carter said the 40 Milner homeowners include retirees, construction workers, home cleaners, bookkeepers, a nurse, beekeeper, beverage truck driver, school district employees, yoga instructors and ski resort employees.

The park owner-investor’s attorney did not return a phone call and email from the Steamboat Pilot & Today.