Maharishi International University in Fairfield has announced plans to close Utopia Park, a long-standing trailer park on the north edge of town.
University officials say the trailers—built in 1983 for visitors attending the “Taste of Utopia” assembly—have deteriorated to the point where repairs are no longer economically feasible.
MIU Vice President of Operations Jeremy Brenin says the park will be shut down gradually over the next two and a half years. Of the park’s 176 trailers, 146 are currently occupied.
To avoid overwhelming Fairfield’s housing market, the university plans to close the park in six phases, with between 15 and 21 trailers shutting down every six months. The first eviction notices went out February first, giving those residents six months to move out. The final phase is scheduled for August 2028.
The university will also provide $800 toward moving expenses for each trailer through an agreement with a moving company.
Officials say the phased approach is intended to give Fairfield’s rental market time to absorb the displaced residents. About half of the current tenants have ties to the university, while the rest do not.
MIU says the land is expected to be redeveloped in the future for new housing, potentially including townhomes, multi-plex units, or an apartment complex.