The Deer Ridge Story...
Deer Ridge opened pre-1960 and has almost doubled in size to a 13-site, resident-owned manufactured home community.
But that transition didn't happen overnight. We began the move toward controlling our own destiny in 2014. That's when, with the help of Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) and ROC USA, LLC, we formed Deer Ridge Mobile Home Park, that would, on Feb. 11, 2015, 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.
Deer Ridge couldn't be better situated in the state's capital of Augusta. A small, family-friendly neighborhood, we are located just off Route 3/202 and three minutes from I-295. Our convenient location makes the commute to work or school a breeze. Ready to relax for the day? Just continue up the road an hour to Belfast to soak in the ocean air, wander around the shops, and spend the afternoon at the beach. With countless lakes and hiking trails within a half-hour from Deer Ridge, the outdoor options are endless. Six miles west you will find the University of Maine - Augusta campus. Nearby shopping malls and restaurants offer all of the conveniences of a bigger city. For the times you're looking for something different or are flying out of town, Portland is an hour away. We have walking, snowmobile and ATV trails nearby. As the capital of Maine, Augusta is a hub of activity and business development.
Our small, friendly community takes pride in helping our neighbors. Deer Ridge has a community garden and members enjoy spending time tending to the plants and learning from one another. Stable rent allows us to enjoy our excellent location and proximity to the beauty of Maine, as well as jobs and school opportunities.
Ask anyone who lives in Deer Ridge, and we're sure they'll tell you it's a little slice of heaven.
