Closing a park - advice, comments, thoughts?

I have a very small park in Illinois, 5 units owner-occupied, license is for 13 if I recall. I would prefer to use the land for something else that doesn’t require nagging grown adults. Two units are good-paying seniors in poor health–1 of those homes is leaking freshwater and needs a new above-ground sewer line. We just learned that this weekend, and the owner’s relatives are putting in a new deck but didn’t return my call about the needed water/sewer maintenance. Unclear if the seniors living there properly conveyed the issue.

I’m considering letting the 1 senior with a nice unit stay–and tell her family that when she passes, it needs to go. I’ll probably continue paying the full park license forever, so I can keep it. I think they will let me keep it, I have more licensed spots than filled spots. It’s not the end of the world.

I’m thinking about giving a 6 months heads-up that the park will close. Announce by April 1, out by October 1. Give out 30 day notices in August so the official 30 days runs the month of September. I was thinking about refunding the rent paid starting April 1 if the site is clean and empty when they leave. I think some people will also just quit paying rent. Although I could hire some teenagers to clean-up for me, I don’t want to deal with abandoned trailers (again). My goal would be clean and clear property for spring.

I bought the property with the plan to close it in 4 years because I always had agricultural plans for the ground. I lasted 12. It’s in my backyard, so I never really wanted to fill it or grow it.

Does the timeline seem fair? Refund policy ridiculous? Thoughts?

I think 6 months is fine… longer is better. And the refund policy is generous. Have you considered reaching out to nearby park owners who have space in their communities to relocate them? Instead of refunding them the rent, perhaps use those funds to relocate their homes?

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