Zimmerman Terrace

### Introduction / Overview

For Minnesotans exploring diverse housing options, manufactured home communities often present a more accessible and affordable path to homeownership compared to traditional stick-built houses. Zimmerman Terrace, located in the quiet city of Zimmerman, Minnesota, is one such community. It offers a unique living environment where residents own their homes and lease the land, a model that can significantly ease the financial burden of entering the housing market.

Zimmerman, situated in Sherburne County, is known for its blend of rural tranquility and growing suburban convenience, often appealing to those who desire a peaceful lifestyle while remaining connected to larger amenities. Zimmerman Terrace aims to provide a space for residents to establish their homes within this setting.

However, it's crucial for prospective residents to gain a comprehensive understanding of what living at Zimmerman Terrace entails, drawing from direct feedback from those who have experienced it. While the concept of affordable living is appealing, reviews from long-term residents highlight significant concerns regarding park management, the upkeep of shared facilities like the playground, and winter street maintenance. These issues, including allegations of inconsistent rules and unresponsiveness from on-site management, are important considerations for anyone contemplating a move to Zimmerman Terrace. This article will provide a factual overview, balancing the potential benefits of manufactured home living with candid insights into the community's operational realities.

### Location and Accessibility

Zimmerman Terrace is located at 613 Falcon Ln, Zimmerman, MN 55398, USA. This address places the mobile home park within the city of Zimmerman, a community in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Zimmerman offers a blend of natural beauty and suburban amenities, making it a desirable location for many Minnesotans who appreciate a quieter pace of life while still having access to conveniences.

The accessibility of Zimmerman Terrace benefits from its position within Zimmerman. Residents generally have reasonable access to local services and attractions:

• Local Schools: Zimmerman is part of School District 728, which includes four schools within the city. This makes Zimmerman Terrace a potentially convenient location for families with school-aged children, with schools accessible within the local area.

• Downtown Zimmerman: The "bustling downtown area" of Zimmerman features a variety of shops, restaurants, and businesses. Residents can access local grocery stores, dining options, and other essential services within a short drive.

• Outdoor Recreation: Zimmerman is an "outdoorsy community" and is considered the "Gateway to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge," a vast natural area offering opportunities for hiking, bird-watching, and wildlife viewing. Lake Fremont, a spring-fed lake, is also on the city's eastern boundary, providing options for fishing, boating, and swimming. The nearby Sand Dunes State Forest offers trails for various activities, including horseback riding and snowmobiling. These natural amenities enhance the quality of life for residents who enjoy outdoor activities.

• Healthcare Services: Local medical services such as Fairview Clinic in Zimmerman, Zimmerman Physical Therapy, and Pine Ridge Dental are available within the city, providing convenient access to healthcare. Larger hospitals are accessible in nearby communities like Princeton, Coon Rapids, and Monticello.

• Major Road Access: Zimmerman is located near U.S. Highway 169, a key route that provides relatively easy access to larger cities like Minneapolis (approximately 40 miles southeast) and St. Cloud (approximately 35 miles west). This connectivity is important for commuters or those seeking broader shopping and entertainment options.

While the overall location in Zimmerman offers a range of benefits, it's important to consider all aspects of living within the park itself, particularly those highlighted in resident feedback concerning internal maintenance and management responsiveness.

### Services Offered

Zimmerman Terrace, as a manufactured home community, provides essential services designed to support its residents. However, based on available public feedback, there are significant disparities between expected services and reported resident experiences. Here's an overview of services generally provided, with critical notes from customer reviews:

• Lot Rentals: The primary service is the provision of lots for rent where residents place their manufactured homes. This includes the foundational infrastructure for utility hookups.

• On-Site Management: Zimmerman Terrace has on-site management. However, reviews indicate severe issues, with residents describing it as "horrible" and claiming "Different rules for each resident." Allegations suggest that management shows favoritism, with residents being "harassed and ignored" if they are "NOT the 'PARK MANAGERS PET.'" This directly impacts the quality of the living environment and responsiveness to concerns.

• Maintenance of Common Areas: The park is responsible for maintaining common areas, including roads and shared recreational spaces. However, resident reviews highlight significant failures in this area:

  • Playground Maintenance: The "kids park hasn't been done in 8 years and is dangerous for children to play on with nails sticking out and rotten wood." This points to a severe neglect of child safety and recreational facilities.

  • Winter Street Maintenance: "Streets in the winter are NEVER fully cleaned off after storms and end up with HUGE RUTS and or ice sheets." This poses significant safety hazards for vehicles and pedestrians during Minnesota's harsh winters.

  • Tree Maintenance: Complaints about "rotten trees" are reportedly met with dismissive responses like "that's NOT our problem."

• Complaint Resolution/Head Office Escalation: Residents frequently state that they "ALWAYS have to call the main Company Cepco to get anything done," indicating a lack of effective problem-solving from on-site management.

• Utility Infrastructure: While not explicitly detailed in reviews, manufactured home parks typically provide connections for essential utilities like water, sewer, and electricity. Residents are then responsible for their individual consumption. However, the lack of general maintenance suggests there could be underlying issues with infrastructure upkeep.

Prospective residents should be acutely aware of these reported service deficiencies and management challenges when considering Zimmerman Terrace.

### Features / Highlights

When considering Zimmerman Terrace, it's important to present a balanced view, acknowledging both the inherent aspects of manufactured home living and the specific highlights and significant concerns raised by residents:

Potential Highlights (Based on general manufactured home park benefits and location):

• Affordable Homeownership Potential: Manufactured home parks like Zimmerman Terrace typically offer a more financially accessible path to homeownership compared to traditional stick-built houses. This allows residents to own their dwelling and potentially build equity.

• Location in Zimmerman: The community is situated in Zimmerman, a city that offers a quieter, small-town atmosphere with access to natural amenities like lakes and wildlife refuges, appealing to those who enjoy outdoor activities.

• Commutable Distance to Larger Cities: Zimmerman's proximity to U.S. Highway 169 provides a reasonable commute to larger employment centers and entertainment hubs like Minneapolis and St. Cloud.

Significant Concerns / Reported Features (Based on direct resident feedback):

• "Horrible" On-Site Management: This is a predominant and critical concern. Residents report "horrible" on-site management that implements "Different rules for each resident" and engages in "harassment" or "ignoring" residents who are not considered "PARK MANAGERS PET." This indicates a highly problematic internal living environment.

• Neglected Maintenance:

  • Dangerous Playground: The "kids park hasn't been done in 8 years and is dangerous for children to play on with nails sticking out and rotten wood." This poses a severe safety risk to children in the community.

  • Poor Winter Street Maintenance: "Streets in the winter are NEVER fully cleaned off after storms and end up with HUGE RUTS and or ice sheets." This creates hazardous conditions for driving and walking, particularly during Minnesota's severe winters.

  • Unaddressed Property Issues: Complaints about issues like "rotten trees" are allegedly dismissed with responses like "that's NOT our problem," indicating a lack of responsibility for common area upkeep.

• Rising Lot Rent with No Improvements: Residents report "High lot rent that keep going up every year, with no improvements that benefit anyone living there." This suggests a poor return on investment for residents and a lack of reinvestment into the community's infrastructure and amenities.

• Need for External Escalation: Residents "ALWAYS have to call the main Company Cepco to get anything done," implying that on-site management is ineffective at resolving issues, requiring residents to go to a higher authority for basic needs.

• Community Atmosphere Concerns: Beyond maintenance, the phrase "Trailer Trash that's the park" (while noting "The people are average every day persons") hints at a perception or feeling of disrepair and neglect that impacts the overall community's reputation and residents' morale.

It is imperative for any prospective resident to thoroughly investigate these serious concerns and verify the current state of affairs before considering Zimmerman Terrace.

### Promotions or Special Offers

Based on the provided customer reviews and typical operations of mobile home parks, there are no specific, advertised "promotions" or "special offers" from Zimmerman Terrace. The fundamental "offer" of a manufactured home park generally revolves around providing an accessible housing solution. However, the information provided heavily indicates significant drawbacks that overshadow any potential inherent value.

• Affordable Housing Concept: The primary underlying "promotion" of any mobile home park is the provision of affordable homeownership. This typically involves lower purchase prices for manufactured homes and a monthly lot rent. However, reviews for Zimmerman Terrace explicitly state "High lot rent that keep going up every year, with no improvements that benefit anyone living there," which directly contradicts the benefit of affordability in terms of value received.

• Availability of Lots/Homes: While not a promotion, the park would offer lots for rent, and potentially homes for sale, as a core business function. However, the negative aspects highlighted by residents (poor management, lack of maintenance) would significantly impact the desirability of such offerings.

Given the strong negative feedback regarding increasing lot rent without corresponding improvements, lack of maintenance, and problematic management, any implicit "promotion" of affordable living is severely undermined. Prospective residents would need to weigh these significant financial and quality-of-life concerns very carefully against any perceived cost savings. It is highly unlikely that any positive "special offers" would mitigate the reported issues, which seem to be systemic within the on-site management and maintenance practices.

### Contact Information

For individuals seeking to inquire further about Zimmerman Terrace, including lot availability, current rates, or to address any concerns directly, the following contact information is available:

Address: 613 Falcon Ln, Zimmerman, MN 55398, USA

Phone: (763) 856-6004

Given the significant concerns raised in customer reviews, it is highly advisable for any prospective resident to exercise extreme caution and conduct thorough due diligence. When contacting the park, it would be prudent to ask direct and specific questions about:

• Current lot rent fees and the history of increases.

• Specific plans for maintenance and upgrades to the children's park and overall common areas, including a timeline for repairs.

• Winter snow removal and street maintenance protocols.

• The process for addressing resident complaints and the role of the on-site manager versus the main company (CEPCO Management).

It would also be beneficial to speak with current residents, if possible, and to visit the park multiple times, particularly after a snowfall, to observe the conditions firsthand. Considering the severity of the reported issues, a direct and comprehensive inquiry is essential before making any commitments.

### Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For Minnesotans considering Zimmerman Terrace as a potential home, it's essential to approach this decision with a clear understanding of both its location and the critical challenges highlighted by current and former residents. Geographically, Zimmerman offers a quiet, small-town atmosphere with access to notable natural amenities like the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Fremont, appealing to those who enjoy outdoor activities and a respite from urban hustle. Its proximity to U.S. Highway 169 provides a reasonable commute to larger cities like Minneapolis and St. Cloud, offering a degree of convenience for employment and broader services.

However, suitability for locals looking for a stable and positive living environment is severely impacted by the consistent and strong negative feedback regarding internal park operations. The recurring themes of "horrible" on-site management, neglected common area maintenance (especially the dangerous playground and poor winter street plowing), rising lot rent without improvements, and a perceived lack of fairness in rule enforcement present significant barriers to a comfortable and safe living experience. Residents report needing to escalate issues to the main company, CEPCO Management, indicating a breakdown in on-site responsiveness and accountability. This directly contradicts the expectations of a well-run community where residents should feel supported and safe.

While the concept of affordable homeownership in a mobile home park is inherently attractive, the reported high and increasing lot rent, coupled with a lack of reinvestment in the park's infrastructure, undermines this core benefit. For Minnesotans seeking a long-term, stable, and well-maintained living situation, the significant concerns at Zimmerman Terrace suggest that alternative options may offer a more reliable and less problematic experience. It is crucial for prospective residents to conduct extensive due diligence, verify the current state of maintenance, and consider the potential for ongoing dissatisfaction with management practices before choosing Zimmerman Terrace as their home.

Zimmerman Terrace

613 Falcon Ln, Zimmerman, MN 55398, USA