The Sunset Terrace Story...
Sunset Terrace opened in the mid-1970s with around 15 sites, and has grown into a 76-site, resident-owned manufactured home community.
But that transition didn't happen overnight. We began the move toward controlling our own destiny in 2015. That's when, with the help of Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) and ROC USA, LLC, we formed Sunset Terrace Cooperative, that would, on Feb. 24, 2016, purchase and take control of our community.
Now, the resident-owned community (ROC) is not only a successful business, but also a thriving neighborhood. The process of the resident-owned community buying the land beneath our neighborhood brought this community closer together. Not only do we know far more of our neighbors than ever before, but we look out for one another, too. And with no outside landlord to report to, we're the envy of other nearby manufactured home communities.
Our Member households elect our Board of Directors, which works with a property management firm and also appoints various volunteer committees to help with special projects, celebrations, community improvements and more. The Board submits a budget every year, and the entire Membership votes on it and any changes to the rent before the budget becomes official. We're running the business that is our community on our terms, by our rules, for the betterment of ourselves and our neighbors.
Sunset Terrace couldn't be better situated in the Main Street Community of Rockland, in the mid-coast region of Maine. A family-friendly neighborhood, we are located just a mile from downtown, with a true down-home feel. In our community, neighbors help each other, and we have a sense of pride in Sunset Terrace. Looking to get away for the day? Take the ferry to one of the islands in Rockland Harbor. For outdoor enthusiasts, our community is near Oyster River Bog, also known as the Rockland Bog, a 6,000-acre woodland that provides hiking and walking in the woods for people of all ages. The Georges Highland Path has 50 miles of trails along the Georges River. Only 15 minutes from the historic 1825 Owls Head Lighthouse or Birch Point Beach State Park, Sunset Terrace has many opportunities for summer fun. We are five minutes from Sandy Beach. Fishing and lobsters remain important to the heritage of our coastal Maine town. Rockland, named the “Coolest Small Town in U.S.” by Budget Travel, has a boardwalk in the vibrant downtown and is home to an annual Lobster Festival and the North Atlantic Blues Festival. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is in town, along with the Farnsworth Museum with more than 10,000 works on display. With larger grocery stores and a movie theater less than two miles away, we have easy access to amenities of a larger community. Portland and Bangor are both an hour and a half from Sunset Terrace and Bar Harbor is two hours farther up the Maine coast.
Sunset Terrace holds an annual summer BBQ for our Members. As the weather improves, we are often found in our community garden, which helps feed our community. Kids plant seeds in the garden to grow Mother's Day plants for their Moms. Landscaping projects keep Sunset Terrace a welcoming, inviting place, and give Members a sense of pride in our community. Our Members are a vital part of our community, and you can play a role in improving our neighborhood for all to enjoy.
Ask anyone who lives in Sunset Terrace, and we're sure they'll tell you it's a little slice of heaven.
