Accolades follow when developers build the right way. Yesterday’s entry spoke to this in general, but today there is news that affirms it.

That is why it makes sense that Parrish Manor, a 280-home community in Garner, North Carolina, won the 2008 Manufactured Housing Institute Land-Lease Community of the Year Award.

Parrish Manor has been the subject of praise on this site in the past. CRA-NC featured it in my book, too. It is a wonderful example of how manufactured housing can be utilized in a development paradigm that accords with the ideals of the best intentions for affordable housing.

The site plan and landscaping, for example, feature all the things associated with new single family site built housing developments: valley curbs, sewers, paved asphalt roads, secure mail boxes, sodium vapor lights, and concrete sidewalks. The homes are new, with sloping shingle roofs, well-kept skirting, and treated wood porches.

The Parrish family also runs a non-profit, the Nessie Foundation, to provide membership for the park’s children to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Nessie purchased a large white school bus that transports those children regularly.

Charlie Parrish, who owns the park along with his son, Chris, hosted a small celebration outside of the community’s rental office on Wednesday morning. The audience included Raleigh City Councilman James West and Rep. Linda Coleman (D-Raleigh).

Coleman was very impressed, remarking that her visit changed her mind about what manufactured housing means. West, who Charles Parrish called a long-term supporter and advocate of the community since its initial contact with Raleigh’s planning and inspection departments, said that Parrish Manor works because it shows people how they can help themselves.

Charles Parrish mentioned that in years past, communities in Florida have generally won the award. Parrish Manor, unlike those parks, is not a gated community owned by a REIT with a large retiree population and high housing prices. Doublewides in Parrish Manor begin near $800 and some singlewides can be rented (including the lot) for about $650.

While those Florida parks represent a kind of success that comes with excellent buildings and manicured landscapes, Parrish Manor shows that quality can still come in a community that caters to the workforce. Not only are rents low, but the Parrish Manor staff has actively reached out to Hispanic residents. They have several staff members who speak Spanish.

“It is a ninety percent minority community,” said Parrish.

The success is evidenced by the demand for homes. Currently, there is a waiting list to get into Parrish Manor.

North Carolina’s proposed legislation (H1700) to protect residents in park closures moved one step closer to becoming law on Friday.  The bill left Judiciary II and now moves across the Legislature Chambers into the Senate.

This bill, sponsored by Susan Fisher of Asheville, would provide park owners with an incentive to sell their properties to resident-owned cooperatives or to non-profit managed ownership groups.

A sticking point between advocates and industry was resolved in committee.  The issue at hand was a rider attached to the bill that required park owners to mail notification letters to each park tenant in the event of a closure.  This would have been in addition to existing state law that requires advance notice of 180 days in the event of a closure.

Representatives in the house Judiciary II committee agreed to language that requires that park owners inform the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

This brings the NCHFA into the scope of actors participating in park closures.  Advocates are attracted to this change because it may bring dividends later.  If notification makes NCHFA more aware of the scope of problems facing residents of manufactured housing parks, it follows that they will be more open to creating financial products for park acquisition or even unit financing in years to come.

Chris Parrish, a Board Member of North Carolina’s Manufactured Housing Institute, supports the changes, too. Parrish owns a first class land-lease community, Parrish Manor, outside of Garner, North Carolina.  His motives may be benevolent, or merely pragmatic.  Certainly, he runs his own park in a way that reflects well on his concern for families.  Then again, his support could stem from a perspective that says that park acquisitions by non-profits in North Carolina are, at best, years away from being a viable alternative.