Miami Herald 09/03/08

Timothy Rubinstein is a 31-year-old father, engaged and working two jobs.

He also is about to be homeless.

Rubinstein is one of thousands who call the Palma Nova mobile-home park in Davie their home. Now, they all face eviction.

The land's owner, Broward County businessman Austin Forman, has decided to evict the residents of the 940-unit park south of Nova Southeastern University and east of Davie Road. Last month, Palma Nova residents received notices telling them they must leave by Feb. 28, 2009.

They won't go quietly.

Several hundred residents, including Rubinstein, packed Davie Town Hall on Wednesday night, pleading their case to town leaders in the hope that their elected officials could do something -- anything -- to keep them in their homes for at least a while longer.

''You have to consider the hard-working people that make this town what it is,'' Rubinstein said.

Town leaders listened and took notes, but said they feared there was little they could do. The land's owner has the right to sell it, and the law provides limited compensation.

''The town of Davie is doing what it can,'' Town Attorney John Rayson said.

A telephone message to Forman's office was not returned Wednesday.

The afternoon began back at Palma Nova, where about 50 residents met at the basketball courts, then marched to Town Hall, carrying cardboard protest signs.

At Town Hall, they were greeted by more than 100 people, also there to protest. They packed the Town Council chambers, then spilled into the waiting area and outside Town Hall.

Outside, a few men handed out fliers for a company that buys porches, air conditioners and other parts of used trailers.

The mobile-home park is a part of Broward's dwindling supply of low-priced housing. Prices range from $13,000 to $50,000.

Debb Smith, 49, told town leaders she had lived in a good life in her three-bedroom, two-bathroom trailer for $795 a month. She said she didn't know where else in Davie she could find a deal like that.

''We are everyday working citizens,'' Smith said. ``And somebody is making money off of us.''

Miami Herald staff writer Natalie P. McNeal contributed to this report.