Welcome to the archive of Mapleton Hollow's community newsletter!
The Mapleton Mobile-izer is issued quarterly, following the MHA membership meetings. Special editions are issued as needed, for example before a quarterly meeting where MHA members will be voting for executives or making an important decision...
Volume 4.2 Newsletter of the Mapleton Home Association [MHA] April 1999
SPECIAL ELECTION ISSUE - ALEX WILSON #58 AND BEN JENSEN #178 RUN FOR PRESIDENT...
PETE CATERINA #176 UNOPPOSED FOR SECRETARY
Inside This Issue
Meet the candidate: Ben Jensen
By Ben Jensen
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My name is Ben Jensen and I am a Boulder native. I was born in 1972 at Memorial Hospital (now Mapleton Rehab Center) and have lived here all my life. When my father, Cliff Jensen, moved to Mapleton Mobile Home Park, I learned about all the great things this community has to offer, so I purchased a home here myself in 1995. I enjoy the diversity of people and culture here. The location is great and the rent is reasonable. When I heard about the formation of the Mapleton Home Association, I became a member and later joined the Resident Advisory Committee.
There are two important issues the MHA will have to face over the next few years. The first issue concerns the buyout of the Park from the City. There needs to be more participation and awareness over this issue from the citizens of the Park. People are still anxious and unsure that it is a good decision to participate in the Escrow Account. People often wonder things like: Who will manage the Park? Who will dictate the rules of the Park? How will maintenance costs be covered? Will my rent go up? How much will a share cost? What if I can't afford it? What are my options? It is these unanswered questions that make people hesitant to participate in the Escrow Account. It also makes current participants anxious and uneasy about the future.
If we get answers to these questions, people will feel more safe and secure making an informed decision as to whether or not they should participate in the Escrow Account. I think once these are found, people will be put at ease. Many will realize that the Escrow Account is exactly the opportunity they've been waiting for. That is, an affordable, convenient way to be a homeowner and a landowner (NOT A RENTER) right in the heart of Boulder. People will realize what a wonderful and rare opportunity we really have, that we can all own the community in which we live.
The second important issue facing the MHA is the widening of Goose Creek. Six homeowners will be displaced and other disruptions will arise from the construction. The City and the MHA will have to work together to lessen the impact. We have all helped with this issue by writing letters to City Council members and attending Council meetings. These actions saved at least five homes and made a profound impact on the City Council. It showed that we are a strong community. We'll stick together and work with the City to do what's best for our Park and our citizens. We must maintain this unity and political voice as the City continues to plan the Goose Creek Project.
I have no suggestions to improve the MHA. It is currently an organization that is the best it can be. The only way to make it better is to have more participation, awareness and concern within this community. I am certain that we will eventually own this Park and everyone here has an opportunity to be a future owner of it. Will we be ready and prepared for the radical change and unforeseen burden? The answer is YES, of course, provided we all work together and get as much participation from everyone as possible.
Meet the candidate: Alex Wilson
by Alex Wilson
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When I moved to Mapleton in 1987, our current President, Mark Reeder, was living across the street in #50, "the Yellow Submarine." I bought a trashed out trailer for $1000, and it proved to be the best investment I ever made. Living here in this shady, quiet island in the middle of a bustling city with congenial neighbors has been great, and I want to do my part to see that we keep it that way for years to come.
I'm a semi-retired carpenter (I work three days a week for Boulder County) with a college degree (Syracuse University, History) and a life-long love of folk dance and folk music. I've lived in Boulder for forty years, in Mapleton for twelve. I've seen real estate values rise so that most of us are priced out of the market. In 1959 I was on the point of buying a little two-bedroom house on an acre of land on Kalmia just off Broadway for $12,000, but backed out of the deal. (Too much money!) Today houses cost $250,000 and more, and most of us will never be able to afford them. For most of us, living in Mapleton Park represents the best chance we'll have of staying in Boulder and having a measure of control over our own destiny. Not only that, but this is a great place to live! I want to do my part to see that we keep that way for years to come! The main goal for all of us has to be to own the Park! That's the road to permanent security in a time of ever rising housing costs in this town. The immediate means to that end is for as many of us as possible to buy into the Escrow Account which will put the money for the downpayment to purchase the Park from the City. Another important project is the completion of the Business Plan. These two things, along with our ongoing involvement with the City as a united community will prove to them that we are bonafide players and enable them to follow through on their commitment to sell us the park.
We also need to keep an eye on the development of the Goose Creek Floodway project to make sure residents' interests are well represented.
Mark and Gene and Debbie and Pete and Mike and Nan have done an impressive job so far, along with the rest of us in moving us along the path to ownership and protecting the interests of the residents. It's good to know that whoever is the next President of the MHA will continue to have their support and experience to lean on.
Membership renewal
by the editors
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It is that time of year again to renew your membership in the Mapleton Home Association for 1999 -2000. Everyone's membership expires on April 30, 1999 and membership for 1999-2000 needs to be renewed by that date. Membership is only $5.00 per year. For your dues you receive the bimonthly newsletter, The Mapleton Mobilizer. Yearly dues also pay for the bookkeeping for your association and for office supplies.
The Mapleton Mobilizer invites any association members who have businesses offering services or other products residents may be interested in, such as cooler maintenance or massage, to advertise at no cost.
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The Mapleton Mobile-izer is published quarterly by the Mapleton Home Association and is distributed free to all residents of Mapleton Mobile Home Park.