NORTHWEST TALLAHASSEE, FL \u2014 Cherokee Estates on White Drive is closing after more than 50 years, displacing residents who received 30-day notices to vacate. The owner cites an untraceable water leak that more than doubled the property’s monthly water bill.<\/p>\n
WATCH FULL REPORT BELOW:<\/p>\n
Cherokee Estates mobile home park closing after decades, leaving Tallahassee families scrambling for housing<\/p>\n
Owner Rick Hartsfield says his father built Cherokee Estates in 1967, but the more-than-5-acre property has been in the family since the 1920s. Hartsfield says an untraceable water leak caused the property’s monthly water bill to jump from about $6,000 to more than $13,000.<\/p>\n
“It’s just a legacy that, you know, for unforeseen circumstances that we’re having to close. And it hurts,” Hartsfield said.<\/p>\n
Neighbors on the property are now packing up after receiving 30-day notices terminating their tenancy. For many, the closure means losing both their home and their community.<\/p>\n
Paul McGlynn has lived at Cherokee Estates for 21 years. He says the search for a new place to live has been difficult.<\/p>\n
“Here I am at the crossroads here. I don’t know what to do, don’t know where to go. I put in applications and precious money, $50 a pop, and I keep getting all this no, no, no, no, no,” McGlynn said.<\/p>\n
Other tenants say they cannot find a place in Tallahassee they can afford on short notice.<\/p>\n
“Apartments are expensive. I’mma have to go stay with my sister for a couple of months and try to save money and try to find an apartment. Everywhere I’ve been looking is you know $1,000 or $900 and I can’t afford to pay that much on a fixed income,” Willie Aikens said.<\/p>\n
According to Zillow, the average rent in the 32304 ZIP code is about $1,400 a month. Zillow data shows rent for studio apartments averages about $905 a month, one-bedroom apartments average about $950 a month, and two-bedroom apartments average about $1,295 a month.<\/p>\n
In a written statement, Hartsfield said in part:<\/p>\n
“Our mission to provide affordable housing has been at the heart of our family’s work for decades. Closing the park was a difficult decision for our family. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to serve thousands of residents who have been part of the Cherokee Estates community over the years.”<\/p>\n
Hartsfield says the city is scheduled to disconnect the water Friday, but some tenants say they still have not found a new place to stay.<\/p>\n
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n
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