More than 50 residents of the park and their families packed into a crowded clubhouse to get details on the development plan that could turn their 30-year-old mobile home park into a new housing development.

The meeting was called by representatives from Centex Homes, developers who are working with the park's current owners—Dubrovnik Properties—to convert the park.

Many of the residents were stunned by the announcement—in a letter sent Jan. 5—because Dubrovnik's Nick Gera previously said any plans to recycle the park were in the distant future. In September, Gera said there was nothing for the residents to fear, and he said a meeting—to be held at the beginning of 2005—would give residents a chance to voice their opinions.

Park resident Maria Nicholas said she thought the January meeting was going to be a discussion between Dubrovnik and the residents about the future of the park, not a discussion about relocation possibilities and the beginning of the conversion process.

"I think it's a sad state of affairs," said Walt Pfaller, 65. "I definitely don't like it. When I bought in here a year ago, I was told the park definitely wasn't for sale."

Centex Project Manager Jeff Jacobs said the project is still in its infancy. Jacobs said he first got involved with the project about seven weeks ago. However, Centex's Land Acquisition team first took notice of the property last fall before approaching Dubrovnik about developing it. Dubrovnik representatives—while present at the meeting—declined to comment on the partnership.

"It's really a natural part of the evolution of a city; you go into some of the older parts and begin to modernize them," Jacobs said.

Before a conversion can begin, the developers must get city council approval on Feb. 15 to seek a General Plan amendment to rezone the property, and then get approval of the plan itself. If both approvals happen—which could be as soon as this summer—residents would have six months from the approval date to move out.

At this point, almost a month before the first council hearing, nothing is set in stone, but many of the residents are already planning their next move.

"We've had all of this anti-climactic stuff, and we've all seen it coming," Nicholas said. "I think it's going to be a 'slam-dunk' for them. I think it's going to go through."

She and her neighbors expected a conversion to come, just not this soon. Normal wear and tear has accumulated in the 30-year-old park, and the current owners have declined to rent or maintain empty mobile homes. Weeds are growing along the small streets and the pool isn't much more than a planter box since it's filled in with dirt.

"When people said two to three years, I thought that was wishful thinking," Nicholas said. "I was thinking more like a year, but it looks like more like nine months now."

If the project is approved, Jacobs said, Centex would buy the park from Dubrovnik, who has owned it since July 2004.

In accordance with Sunnyvale city ordinances, Centex Homes is required to provide relocation assistance to the residents should the project be approved, so Centex has contracted with Catholic Charities—a nonprofit group from San Jose that handles relocations like this—to help the residents adjust to what could be a major move for them.

"Anybody's initial response is not going to be one of over-joy, and we recognize that, so we're trying to give them the tools they need to move on," Jacobs said. "We feel good about using [Catholic Charities] because they're right in the area so they can look at the unique situations here."

Catholic Charities Housing Director Gloria Ortega said the organization's assistance includes a menu of services, including bringing appraisers in to determine house value, searching for hew housing and counseling to help people with what could be a hard move.

"Despite the challenge, I'm excited that—if there is a relocation—my staff can be involved because we really do care about the people we're helping," she said. "We're not miracle workers, however, we can help identify the resources in the community for these people and help alleviate some of the pain of moving."

Starting as early as this week, and continuing through the Feb. 15 city council meeting, Ortega and her staff will be putting together their Mobile Home Conversion Report. The report includes the names of all residents needing relocation, a description of their homes, listing of vacant mobile home parks in the area and their rental rates. It also includes a relocation plan with a timetable and a description of the necessary assistance that will be given to the residents.

"Nobody likes to be uprooted, and we appreciate that these are not just mobile homes, these are these peoples' home, and we want to help them relocate to something that's going to work for them," Jacobs said.

If residents decide to move their homes to another site, they will receive $1,300—adjusted for inflation—to pay for rent, utilities and deposits for a new site for one month. In addition, owners of a single-wide unit get an additional $3,200, and owners of double-wide get $12,650.

If residents elect to just sell their units and move on, the project applicant—in this case Centex—has to pay them 85 percent of the value of a similar home in a similar park nearby, as determined by an outside appraiser.

"While we recognize that this is a huge impact in people's lives, for some it could be just the nudge they need to move on," Jacobs said.

Many of the residents at the meeting said they probably have to sell their homes because the units are already old and beginning to fall apart. Some residents are talking of moving to areas with cheaper rental rates, including Chico and Fresno. David Sund, who has lived in Oasis for just over a year, said rates in Chico are close to half of what he's paying for space here. Nicholas said her next move might be down to San Diego to enjoy the weather and be closer to her son.

"At this point, I just want to get a good price for my unit. I don't want to sit around and wait, because the longer you wait, the harder it gets," Nicholas said.