New owner purchases 5th St. mobile home park in Desert Hot Springs

Major changes are underway at a mobile home park in Desert Hot Springs located off Palm Dr. between 5th and 6th St. 

Over the past decade, police have responded to numerous 911 calls in the area. As a result, the city has been trying to find a solution. A new owner just purchased the property and officials hope this represents a turning point for the park and its residents.  

Desert Hot Springs Mayor Scott Matas says there are legal residents living at the park. In recent years, however, it became overrun with squatters and crime.

“This was something that was completely terrorizing the legal residents there on a regular basis,” said Mayor Matas. 

Matas says after he was elected mayor, a group of legal residents from the park came to his office asking the city to intervene. 

There have been reports of drug use, prostitution and gunfire on site. Matas says the park has strained city resources: “From police and fire to code enforcement...it was just draining us.” 

There was a murder at the park in 2012 and another in March of this year. 

News Channel 3 spoke then to Andres Martinez Pita Jr. who lost his father at 5th St. mobile home park in a senseless shooting: “I always tried to get my dad out of there,” said Pita. “He left a lot of good people behind and he's gonna be very missed.” 

News Channel 3’s Madison Weil spoke with Desert Hot Springs police Chief Jim Henson about the present situation. 

“The condition of the park was horrid. There were all kinds of trailers and encampments," said Henson, describing a park filled with debris.

He says since 2007, his department has responded to 1,100 calls for service (about 800 of those were for proactive patrol) and nearly 150 police reports have been filed. 

Henson took Weil on a drive through the park this week. He says it looks significantly better already due to the new ownership. 

After years of searching for a solution, the California Housing and Community Development department helped the city of Desert Hot Springs find a buyer who specializes in renovating properties like this. 

Anthony Ujueta is the operators manager for that company working on the ground. 

“There’s been nothing that compares to this...in terms of filth and the living conditions for the folks in the community,” said Ujueta. 

Ujueta says his team has begun cleanup and infrastructural repairs on site. As for those who were living there illegally, the owner offered them a stipend to help them relocate. 

Ujueta added that some of the legal residents in the park have been hired to work alongside him and his team. “When you have folks that have been living there with the problems day in and day out...they can be a huge help to you,” said Ujueta. 

He says the legal residents were given the option to stay or move. The new owner and the city say they plan to help those who want to stay, do so safely.  

“This is something that is going to transform that neighborhood...it really will,” added Matas.