BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. — A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit regarding the closure of the Pines Trailer Park, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the area, bringing an end to a dispute that began earlier this year. The lawsuit, brought by the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association against Pines Park Investors LLC, was dismissed by Judge Edward Nicholas of the 12th Circuit Court on August 8 following the agreement.
The terms of the settlement, which remain confidential, were announced by the park’s ownership group, including developer Shawn Kaleta, in a statement released on August 25. The statement indicated that current residents would be allowed to stay at the park for a predetermined duration. However, specifics regarding the number of occupied units and the length of the extension have not been disclosed.
As of late August, many of the park’s 86 homes appeared to be vacant. Resident Elayne Armaniaco estimated that only 20 to 25 people still call the park home. The Pines Trailer Park, located at 103 Church Ave., has functioned under a land-lease system, where homeowners pay to lease their lots while maintaining their own homes.
The Homeowners Association initially filed its lawsuit on March 28, accusing the park’s ownership of violating Florida’s Mobile Home Act by not providing proper notification of the park’s impending closure. The lawsuit claimed that the owners converted a residential parking area into paid public parking, and allegedly acted in bad faith by presenting a buyback offer of $75 million, nearly five times the price paid for the property in 2023.
In January, Pines Park Investors informed residents that the park would close, citing damage from storms in 2024 and financial difficulties as reasons. The ownership stated that these challenges made it infeasible for the park to continue operating. In a statement, they acknowledged the settlement would lead to significant financial losses, but deemed it a necessary resolution for all involved.
The Pines Trailer Park has been a part of the Bradenton Beach community since the mid-1930s, serving as a home for retirees and families, fostering a tight-knit bayfront environment. In March 2023, the previous owners, the Jackson Partnership, put the 2.78-acre property up for sale at $16 million, eventually selling it to Pines Park Investors for $16.25 million in August.
Despite attempts to form a cooperative to purchase the park, homeowners were unable to band together to bid. The future of Pines Trailer Park remains uncertain as residents adapt to the current situation.
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