New modular home park in a field of dreams
Shirley Kolompar at Parkside Estates, Ladysmith's new modular home park
By MARINA SACHT
The street is a beehive of activity.
Sundecks are in the process of being built. Gardeners are busy putting in their rockwork and landscaping. A man surveys his newly transplanted palm tree. It has survived the winter.
A bobcat buzzes down the street and everywhere the hum of power tools and there is the chorus of hammers.
Welcome to Parkside Estates, Ladysmith’s new modular home park with a unique history.
Its 40 sites are more than half occuppied by the previous tenants of Ivy Green Park.
“There are only 17 sites left,” says Ron Currie of Home Front Modular, the home provider for park owners LMF Development and the Parkside Estates community. Currie takes me through the display show home. It’s a single wide but surprisingly spacious. Large windows and an open floor concept, rich cabinetry in the kitchen and sophisticated colours are a nice surprise. The split design features a bedroom and bath at either end, offering privacy while increasing the livable space by omitting the hallway.
Built to Canadian Mortgage Housing Standards, the homes feel like a regular house. “You will find 2×6 construction, low volatile windows, and generous insulation, making them efficient to heat. Sizes range from 924 to 1400 sq ft. A single is 14’ wide by 66’. The lots are generous 35 to 45 wide by 100 deep backing onto a wooded area with walking trails and the sport field close by yet still private.
“We want this to feel like home for them,” says Currie, pointing out the walking trails and the fringe of tall trees that are parkland.
“People have been under a lot of pressure, it’s been a traumatic experience for them,” says Currie.
It takes us 10 minutes to walk to the end of the short street; we are stopped with hellos, friendly waves and everywhere people are exchanging greetings and news. There’s a good feeling on the street. It’s the feeling of a community reconnecting its bonds.
A new home starts at $129,000 and with pad rents at $365, they are an affordable housing option. But better yet, the Park is offering residents security and peace of mind with a 25 year lease.
The story of how this community came to be here is unique.
Back in early 2009 the residents of Ivy Green Modular Home Park were given eviction notice that they would have to relocate as owners Oak Bay Marina Group had plans to develop the ocean view property.
For many of the elderly long term residents it was a devastating blow. Not only would they be faced with the almost impossible task of relocating their older modulars – aging restrictions on modulars would prevent them from entering many parks but the tight knit community would also be lost.
In the first of its kind move the Town of Ladysmith led by Mayor Rob Hutchins, and various community groups came forward to help with finding a new home and facilitating the move. A portion of the parkland of Lot 108 where the new sports field is located was rezoned. In 2010 LMF Development, made up of David Stalker, Jag Basi and Chris Kaelbe took on the challenge as owners.
“If it wasn’t for Rob Hutchins we wouldn’t be here. We’d be out on the street.” says Shirley Kolompar.
Parkside Estates show home
The Kolompars moved to Ivy Green in 2006 where they bought a double wide for $60,000. They had heard rumours that the park could be closing but when it came it still surprised them.
Shirley estimates that the average cost to relocate a home is around $20,000. That includes the move, setting up, and because the park is new, there was the additional expense of bringing service, and cementing the driveway. Residents will be able to recoup that cost when they sell their homes but for some it was too costly and they didn’t make the move. “We only got $1500 from Oak Bay Marine Group,” she says.
Although they really liked their doublewide they sold it. Between the cost of moving it and its age, they decided to purchase a new singlewide from HomeFront. “We’re really happy that we went that route.”
The Kolompars were the first to move in on Jan. 27, 2011. Shirley remembers being awakened one night shortly after moving in. “It was very dark, the streetlights hadn’t been installed and suddenly we were awakened with these bright lights in our windows.”
It wasn’t an alien invasion. It was Nickel Bros bringing in a modular. Their permit required night moves.”
The exodus had begun.
Volunteers came to the rescue. Ladysmith Rotary assisted in moving some of the seniors. Families and friends came to the rescue. “Volunteers helped move the shrubs and landscaping. In times like this you have to pull together with family and friends.”
Shirley says she has no hard feelings over the eviction. “We can see both sides of the coin.” The hardest part was waiting and living in limbo. “When people were given a time for their move, everyone goes “ahhh”, the waiting is passed. Now we could start planning and living again.”
Shirley loves being close to the new sport field. “It’s fun to watch the games, people walking with their dogs, everyone stops and chats. The community has been great to us.”
Today, the sun is shining, offering a promise for a brighter future for this new community in its field of dreams.
