Updates

Sunset Village Residents’ Association (SVRA) Update - First Quarter 2012:

Click here to view this update as a PDF.

Board members:
Mike Vilches – President
Marge Mareci – Vice President
Dee Ciminello – Treasurer
Anita Noel – Secretary
Gina Vilches – Director

Next meeting will be at the Clubhouse on March 5, 2012 at 7 PM: 
This meeting Agenda will focus on Water.  We will have a representative from Hinckley Springs explain their home delivery program, an update on the Attorney General/ILEPA litigation and review the new well operators Manhard Consultants progress to date. Through a donation to the Association from Glenview Community Church we will distribute free water to everyone in the park. If you don’t want the water you must let us know by putting a note in the secure SVRA mailbox located at 315 3rd Street or just telling a board member.

Several members have asked how they can convey their appreciation for our “Preservation Plan” partners who have been working pro-bono to assist us to save our community. We feel that a simple letter thanking them for their ongoing support would let them know how grateful we are. Without these partners we would not be where we are today. Letters addressed to “Preservation Plan Partners” can be deposited into the secure SVRA mailbox located at 315 3rd Street or dropped at any Board Member’s home

Your SVRA Board continues to meet with community advocates, supporters and leaders to present our situation, solutions and plans to preserve Sunset Village. We plan to meet with church leaders on the North Shore to update them and solicit their help. Please provide us with any contacts you may have so that we can connect, even if it is just a phone call or note.  

Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, Willow Creek and those providing us with legal assistance continue to work to be ready to make an offer to purchase for Sunset Village as the Foreclosure process moves forward.  We will have more information as the final hearing takes place at the end of February.

At our January 9th, 2012 meeting Matt Nix announced that Linda is no longer the manager and that the new manager of Sunset Village is John Beristain. We were also told that there have also been some changes to maintenance and office staff.  Recently there was an email sent to the Residents Association from the Receivers office and in it we learned that the main voice mail number 847-724-7711 rolls over to manager John Beristain during off hours and that there is also an afterhours answering service.

Foreclosure Update:  There was a Settlement hearing held on January 18, 2012 between Klarchek and the lenders.  This was a closed door meeting and results will not be part of the public record. While we do not know the details of that meeting several actions by the Lender after that hearing indicate that Klarchek was not able to come to an agreement to recover the property and that foreclosure is inevitable. The lender has offered the note for sale and a final hearing is set for February 29, 2012.  We will update everyone at the March meeting.

765 ILCS 745/) Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act:  (in part, current law) (765 ILCS 745/8.5)
    Sec. 8.5. Park Closure. If a park owner elects to cease the operation of either all or a portion of the mobile home park, the tenants shall be entitled to at least 12 months' notice of such ceasing of operations. If 12 months or more remain on the existing lease at the time of notice, the tenant is entitled to the balance of the term of his or her lease up to the date of the closing. If less than 12 months remain in the term of his or her lease, the tenant is entitled to the balance of his or her lease plus a written month‑to‑month tenancy and rent must remain at the expiring lease rate to provide him or her with a full 12 months' notice.

4th Receiver’s Report to the Court 11/9/2011-1/9/2012: (partial comments-full report will be posted) Steven S. Spinell is the court appointed Receiver for the mortgaged property known as Sunset Village. He continues to provide daily oversight of the on-site mgt and maintenance staff.

As we come to the end of the reign of Richard Klarchek we cannot, we must not relax. We must work even harder so that we can finally take charge of our own destiny.  We need to work together to let those around us know that we are part of the Glenview community, that we are proud to be here and that we are worth saving. So we need you to not only join the association if you have not but to also get your neighbors to join. We need your advice, you wisdom and your skills. I believe that we can accomplish a great deal when we work together.

Sincerely,

Mike Vilches
President
Sunset Village Residents’ Association

Please remember that recording Audio or Video during meetings is strictly prohibited.

SVRA Update - 4th Quarter 2011:

Our next meeting will be at the Clubhouse on January 9, 2012 at 7 pm. We have not finalized the agenda for this meeting. We will have an overview of the Resident Ownership model as it stands at that time. Prior to that meeting we want to meet with as many residents as possible to answer their questions and let them know how they can help make Sunset Village the community we all want it to be.

Karen Jones has resigned as a SVRA Board Director.

Your SVRA Board continues to meet with community advocates, supporters and leaders to present our situation, solutions and plans to preserve Sunset Village. We want to thank those residents who have contributed to these meetings and encourage others to become involved. There is no group too small, no connections too remote or no interest that should be left undeveloped.  Please provide us with any contacts you may have so that we can connect, even if it is just a phone call or note.  

Through this outreach effort we have developed relationships that have allowed us to enter into an agreement with Housing Opportunity Development Corp (HODC). Through the relationship with HODC we have identified a potential partner who is willing to work toward a purchase of our community. To purchase part of the property to mitigate the vacancy factor and reduce our purchase price obligation and increase the capacity to repair infrastructure.

The SVRA meeting on November 7th was amazing.  A large number of Residents attended, heard the plan and voted overwhelmingly to support this “Preservation Partnership Plan”.

Foreclosure Update: There has been no judgment entered yet on the foreclosure. Based on everything we know foreclosure is inevitable. Most likely the property will go to sale sometime in the first quarter of 2012. It will be sold to either us, a new corporate owner who most likely will need to raise rents, or to a developer who will demolish the community and convert the land for another use. 

Click here to read the rest of this update.

Summary of Third Receiver’s Report to the Court - 9/9/11 through 11/8/11 (click here for full report): Steven S. Spinell, the court-appointed Receiver for the mortgaged property known as Sunset Village, continues to provide daily oversight of the on-site management and maintenance staff. According to this report:

• The Receiver’s council has provided the opinion that the “rebate” program is not referenced in any lease agreement associated with the lot rent and therefore it cannot be paid by the Receiver.
• The receiver worked with the Village of Glenview to implement a series of standards and instructions which dictated security deposits, insurance, work hours, proper electrical disconnections and site release check lists.
• The receiver implemented a series of maintenance repairs discussed at the Sunset Community Resident feedback meeting hosted by the Receiver on 9/8/2011.
• The receiver has maintained ongoing dialogue with Board members of the SVRA concerning various property management and maintenance issues.
• The receiver has had several discussions with the Attorney General’s office concerning pending complaints filed about domestic water (Radium issue) and sanitary sewer problems and contracted Manhard Consulting, who performed analysis of water and sewer systems and provided a draft report on 10/31/11.
• Currently there are 196 lots being leased. Staff is working to remove abandoned homes and winterize vacant pads, working on multiple water main breaks/repairs, and working with plumbing contractor to investigate/repair low water pressure complaints.
• Staff has been working with electrical contractor to investigate exterior pole light outages.
• Future and ongoing maintenance and repairs include: tree trimming due to storm damage, comprehensive program to patch potholes throughout the site, final repair of paving at Willow and Waukegan, sewer and well repairs.

Click here for full report

We are on the brink of a new beginning. Success will require us all to come together and work for a common goal: Those who have been in this community for a long time and have history and sage advice; those who see the potential; those with connections to organizations and institutions that can and want to help. We want to build a powerful Residents’ Association that includes everyone living here, that listens to Residents concerns and works in a dignified manner to address those concerns, an association that is respectful and respected.

Sincerely,

Mike Vilches
President
Sunset Village Residents’ Association

What can you do as a resident?

• Get active and volunteer to help the SVRA.
• Talk to everyone you know in Glenview to get the word back to the village that they support our park and the people living here.
• Contact local, state and federal politicians/officials (click here for contact information.)
• Write the editors of the papers that write stories about us thanking them for publishing the story.
• Contact Mike Vilches at 847-881-6558 or Anita Noel at 847-486-0505 to find out more and learn how you can help.
  

Sunset Village Status During Bankruptcies 

• Chapter 11 has been filed by Richard Klarchek personally and by Sunset Village Limited Partnership.
• Chapter 11 is a restructuring of debts to allow the debtor to repay those debts in the best way possible. As of right now a US trustee has been assigned. Their job is to manage the case and organize the meeting of creditors.
• The Village of Glenview is moving forward with their case against Sunset Village Limited Partnership and Capital First Realty, Inc. (read more below).
• llinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is also suing Sunset Village on behalf of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), according to this article.
  
  

• Depending on the Judges' orders a receiver will be appointed to manage the community
• This change will be brought to the residents through legal documentation
• You must pay your rent. Pay with a check (preferred) and/or get a written receipt.
• If you do not pay rent by the 5th of each month, the receiver can evict you for non-payment of rent.
• If someone comes to your door saying he or she is the receiver, check with a board member or refer to the legal documents you have been sent by US mail. Do not give the person cash. If you don't have any documentation saying they are the receiver, do not give them anything.
  

Board of Directors Elections - July 11, 2011