Whitehorse's Northland trailer park not at risk of redevelopment, says MLA

A Whitehorse MLA and a local realtor are reassuring residents of the Northland trailer park that there isn't a higher risk of eviction just because the park is up for sale. 

"Really, at this point, we're selling a business," said Felix Robitaille, a realtor who's sold a number of homes in the mobile home park, and who is representing the sellers in this deal. 

"It's not an underused, underdeveloped piece of land that is looking for redevelopment." 

Robitaille said he's had residents reach out to him with their concerns but that he's been able to largely reassure them. 

Still, online chatter in a private facebook group called Yukon Helpers network about the park's future has left some residents uneasy.

Territorial NDP leader Kate White who represents the Takhini-Kopper King neighbourhood where Northland Park is located said she's also heard concerns from constituents.

"What we see right now, a park with more than 200 homes, is a lot of fear and insecurity from those who are within that park," said White. 

But she wants residents to know that city zoning bylaws, and the Residential Tenancy Act offer protections.

"It can't go from being a mobile home park to another use without going through city planning," said White. 

Zoning matters

White said Northland Park is zoned as a trailer park, unlike the Casa Loma trailer park which did see evictions when it was sold in 2016. 

White said changing the park's land use is a long, complicated process. In order for a new owner to evict tenants they would first have to convince the city to change the zoning. White said she doesn't believe it's something the city would go for. 

"There would be fierce opposition from those who are living within the park and people like myself," said White. 

Changing the zoning would require multiple layers of review and public consultation. 

Strict rules for eviction

This past spring, the territorial Liberal and NDP parties passed a new Residential Tenancy Act. Under the new law, mobile homeowners cannot be evicted without cause.  

Even if a developer was able to convince the city to change the zoning, the law requires park owners to give tenants 18 months' notice and pay 24 months' worth of pad rent in compensation. For Northland, that would amount to more than $3 million.

"It's not just someone walking in to the city office to turn it in to condos," Robitaille said. "It's just not how it works."

Officials reassure no change coming

Both White and Robitaille said they believe the new owner will continue to operate the park as is.

"The best use for Northland is as a trailer park," said Robitaille. "From the bottom of my heart, I truly don't think anything will change drastically for anyone."

Still, White said the current owners — and the territorial government — should take steps to reassure tenants.

"The seller should be letting tenants know that they don't have to be afraid," she said. "And Yukon government should be reaffirming what protections exist."

Robitaille said the property is currently listed at $13 million — a figure based not just on the land, but on its ongoing revenue from pad rentals.

"If somebody doesn't want to buy a trailer park, I don't think they're buying this offering," Robitaille said.