When Michelle Corey went to her mailbox Saturday, she was greeted by a letter informing her the land under her home had been sold.

Corey and many of her neighbors, residents of the Hilltop Mobile Home Park in College Township, received notification this weekend that their leases had been canceled and their homes must be moved.

It is the second time in two months that residents of a State College-area mobile home park have been told to find new homes.

Residents of the Penn State Mobile Home Park on North Atherton Street in Patton Township, were told in August that they have a year to find alternative living arrangements.

Like others last month, Hilltop resident Terry McGrail expressed concern Tuesday for her elderly neighbors, and those who can’t afford to move.

“We are the people who take care of your elders, who collect your garbage, who serve you food,” McGrail said. “We’re the people who can’t afford to live anywhere else in Centre County because there is really no affordable housing.”

McGrail estimated that between 75 and 100 people could be affected. She said no move-out date was provided to residents.

Corey and McGrail both said the letters were only delivered to Hilltop residents who own their homes, not those who rent.

The park’s owners, Kenneth Mayes and his sister, Sharon Mayes, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. 

A woman who answered the phone at the park’s office confirmed the letters were sent, but would not answer other questions. She refused to provide her name.

College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh said a TV news report of the park’s closing Monday night was the first he had heard of it.

“There are no requests that have been made,” he said. “There’s been absolutely nothing that has crossed our desks at this point. We are as surprised to learn about this as anyone.”

If the new owners want to redevelop the site as something different, they would have to request that it be rezoned. The site is zoned as “mobile home park.”

“Which is what makes some of this surprising to us at the office,” Brumbaugh said. “It’s zoned mobile home park and those are the only uses that are associated with that.”

Brumbaugh said the park predates his arrival in College Township, which is more than 15 years, and he said he thinks it’s been there much longer.

An official in the Centre County Recorder of Deeds office said, as of Tuesday afternoon, no sale documents had been filed at the courthouse.

Corey, who spent her weekend going door to door talking with neighbors, indicated she plans to challenge the sale. She reported a somber atmosphere in the park.

“It’s pretty bad,” Corey said. “It was Labor Day. I was out knocking all night on doors. I didn’t see anyone cooking out. There were no parties here.”