Pines Trailer Park Residents Sue Owners to Block Closure and Evictions
The Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association has filed a lawsuit against the park’s owners, Pines Park Investors LLC, in an effort to stop the planned closure of the park and the threatened eviction of its residents. The legal action was submitted to the 12th Judicial Circuit Court on March 28 by a Sarasota-based attorney representing the homeowners.
The lawsuit is the latest development in a growing conflict between residents and the park's new owners, who purchased the 2.78-acre property in August 2023 for $16.25 million. In January 2025, Pines Park Investors notified residents by email that the park would be closing, citing financial pressures and the risks posed by future storms. Many residents were left in limbo, as the message suggested that some might be able to continue renting on a month-to-month basis for up to two more years, though no clear timeline was provided.
In a controversial move, the owners offered to sell the park back to the residents for $75 million—an average of more than $870,000 per homeowner. This offer has sparked a backlash among the community, which has long consisted of retirees and working-class families.
Compounding tensions are questions over recent construction within the park, particularly the installation of a new seawall cap. Some residents believe these changes worsened flooding during recent hurricanes, contributing to the damages cited as a reason for the closure.
The homeowners association is now seeking an injunction to stop the closure and prevent what they argue are unlawful evictions. With the court case underway, residents hope to preserve their homes and the tight-knit community many have been part of for decades.
The dispute marks another chapter in the growing challenge of affordable housing in coastal Florida, where increasing property values and redevelopment pressures are displacing long-standing communities.
