Pines Trailer Park Lawsuit Settled: Residents Granted Limited Stay
A confidential settlement has ended the Pines Trailer Park lawsuit in Bradenton Beach. Residents may remain for a limited time, but the park’s long-term future is uncertain.
A long-running dispute over the closure of one of Bradenton Beach’s oldest neighborhoods has come to an end.
On August 8, Judge Edward Nicholas of the 12th Circuit Court dismissed the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association’s lawsuit against Pines Park Investors LLC (PPI) after both sides reached a confidential settlement agreement.
Settlement Terms Remain Confidential
Neither the homeowners association nor its members have commented publicly on the outcome.
In a statement issued August 25, park ownership, which includes developer Shawn Kaleta, confirmed that residents will be allowed to remain in the park for an agreed-upon period of time. However, ownership did not disclose how many homes are still occupied or exactly how long residents will be permitted to stay.
Current Status of the Park
Located at 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, the Pines Trailer Park once held 86 homes, though many were vacant at the time of settlement. Resident Elayne Armaniaco estimated that only 20–25 homeowners remain.
The park operates under a land-lease system, where residents own their homes but lease the lots from park ownership.
Background of the Lawsuit
The homeowners association filed suit on March 28, alleging that PPI violated Florida’s Mobile Home Act when it announced plans to close the park. The complaint claimed the owners:
Failed to provide proper notice of closure.
Converted a residential parking lot into paid public parking.
Acted in bad faith by offering to sell the land back to residents for $75 million — nearly five times the $16.25 million PPI paid in 2023.
In January 2024, PPI informed homeowners that the park “must be closed,” citing storm damage and financial strain.
“After suffering extensive damage from 2024’s back-to-back hurricanes, PPI LLC, like many other nearby businesses, has lost its ability to generate enough revenue to operate as a trailer park,” the company said in its August 25 statement.
About the Pines Trailer Park
The Pines Trailer Park has been a fixture on the Bradenton Beach bayfront since the mid-1930s. For nearly 90 years, it has been home to retirees, seasonal visitors, and families, creating a long-standing tight-knit community.
The property was listed for $16 million in March 2023 by its previous owners, the Jackson Partnership, and sold later that year to PPI for $16.25 million. Homeowners previously attempted, but failed, to form a cooperative to purchase the park themselves.