In July 2004, the residents of Oasis Mobile Manor were united, scared and uncertain about their future. They had just received word that their 30-year-old park had been sold, and their housing future was suddenly uncertain.

Now, neighbors are divided, the park is up for redevelopment and many of the residents--some of whom have lived in the park almost 30 years--are making plans to leave the park, by order of the city and developers.

But even as many residents look to the road, a small group of neighbors--who formed a homeowners association nearly two months ago--have vowed to continue fighting the redevelopment plan.

The city council approved a conversion impact report on the park on June 14. That approval is the first step in Dubrovnik Properties' plan to sell the park to Centex Homes. Centex plans to convert the park, nestled in a residential tract on Alberta Avenue, into single-family homes.

The majority of residents who spoke at the meeting were in favor of the conversion, especially with the almost $30,000 Dubrovnik and Centex are potentially offering in relocation assistance and compensation to current residents.

"I've been stressed out for months over this, and I just want to move on and go with the offer Centex has made," Oasis resident Ronald Salazar said.

Almost immediately after Dubrovnik purchased the property in July, rumors begin circulating that the company planned to kick everyone out and convert the park. In September 2004, Nick Gera, one of Dubrovnik's owners, said there were no plans in the immediate future to do anything with the park.

But in November, Centex Homes' land acquisition division contacted Dubrovnik, interested in the property. By January, Centex was on board with a project that involved moving everyone out so new for-sale properties could be built.

On Feb. 15, the city council voted 6-1 to authorize the preparation of a conversion impact report. The council was required to do so because the park's vacancy rate topped 25 percent. According to Sunnyvale municipal code, a 25-percent vacancy constitutes as a "change in use," necessitating a conversion impact report.

Residents got the finished CIR on May 13--ironically, "Friday the 13th"--and the council approved it a month later.

A number of Sunnyvale residents spoke at the meeting, but many of them were not Oasis residents. Of the Oasis residents who spoke, five spoke in favor of the council's eventual decision, and only two residents said they were against Dubrovnik's plan. One of them was Irene Dulfer, president of the Oasis Mobile Manor Homeowners Association. Dulfer, who has fought Dubrovnik since the company first arrived, said the homeowners group was planning to file a "failure to maintain" lawsuit against the park's owners over the poor condition of the park.

Oasis is now a run-down, deteriorating park, with a dirt-filled swimming pool, cracked streets and dried weeds everywhere. The electrical system--as old as the park--can hardly handle a modern community's demand, and an upgrade is estimated to cost at least $5 million.

As part of the conversion, Dubrovnik is now legally bound to pay residents a minimum of $22,500 for their units. That amount is the base. If a unit is appraised higher, the higher amount will be paid. In addition, every resident will receive $2,765 in relocation benefits to cover rent, deposits and moving costs. There are also additional benefits for moving out early, which could raise relocation benefits for homeowners to more than $8,000 if a resident moves within 45 days of the CIR's approval. The benefits decline over time, and any bonuses are gone by Feb. 1--the final day residents can be in their homes--as dictated by the CIR. Municipal code requires a six-month grace period, but the period was extended to help manage any legal actions or moving complications.

Municipal code requires only that Dubrovnik pay 85 percent of a unit's amount, and some units have been appraised as low as $7,500.

Councilman Otto Lee--the only council member to vote against approval--said he did so because he was concerned that adequate appraisals weren't done and that owners were being shortchanged.

Relocation help had been temporarily suspended prior to the June 14 meeting because Centex and Dubrovnik wanted to wait until the council made its decision.

Dulfer and the homeowners association--with the help of the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League--had also requested the delay to give the association time to explore the possibility of buying the park with help from the state.

Although Dulfer initiated the delay, several Sunnyvale residents at the meeting accused Centex of using the delay as a negotiating tactic.

"Centex has turned those residents that have the means and will to move against those who don't," said Mitch Sewell, whose in-laws live in the park. "This [conversion impact report] is an eviction notice."

Project manager Jeff Jacobs said relocations had been put on hold until the CIR is approved. If the park were purchased by the residents or the conversion delayed, the project would be jeopardized. Without a project, Centex has no obligation to the park.

Purchasing the park is almost impossible for Oasis residents, however, because they formed their association after the park was sold and after Dubrovnik entered into a legally binding contract with Centex to purchase the park. As of June 14, Centex representatives said the park was as good as theirs. They are just waiting for escrow to close.

Now that the CIR has been approved, Jacobs said they will resume helping residents move. The speed at which they proceed is dictated now by the appraisers who must look at each unit individually, at a rate of about three or four units a week.