The Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach has weathered storms for decades, but now, its residents face a new challenge: eviction.

After enduring the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the difficult cleanup that followed, residents began to rebuild their lives. Many feared their homes would be red-tagged by FEMA, but 83 of the 86 homeowners were ultimately cleared by city building officials to repair their homes under FEMA’s 50% rule.

It seemed like a path to recovery—until a six-month eviction notice arrived.

“It felt like a gut punch,” said Elayne Armaniaco, who has lived in the park with her husband since 2019. “We didn’t see it coming. It was a complete shock.”

The eviction notice came from Pines Park Investors LLC, which acquired the property in 2023. Managed by Shawn Kaleta, the LLC had initially expressed enthusiasm for the park’s recovery, writing in a letter: “We are proud to own Pines Park and are excited for its recovery and long-term existence.”

But that optimism quickly faded for residents, who say the landowners have offered little communication—and no help with cleanup. Flood marks still stain the community shower, and overgrown weeds conceal debris.

“Our spaces are unsafe. They’re not clean,” Armaniaco said.

Residents own their manufactured homes, but not the land beneath them. They were originally told they could remain for at least five years after the property was sold—but now, they’re turning to the courts to fight for their right to stay.

The Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association has filed a lawsuit, hoping to delay or block the evictions. Many in the 55-plus community say the ordeal has taken a heavy toll—emotionally, physically, and financially.

“We’ve tried to reach out, tried to have a conversation,” Armaniaco said. “But there’s been no cooperation.”

Adding insult to injury, residents say they were offered a chance to buy the land themselves—at a staggering price of $75 million, more than four times its March appraisal.

“They know we’re good tenants,” said Armaniaco. “We always hoped that would count for something—that they’d see us as a community, not just as buildings. But now, we feel abandoned.”

Despite everything, residents are determined to stay in the place they call home. They’re not giving up.

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