Richard Sadowick, along with wife Shirli-Gene, operate Copper Ridge Manufactured Home Park near Olalla. He has some optimistic thoughts about the local real estate market.
“There are signs of an upswing,” he said last week, “in the last two months, we’ve had lots of inquiries,” Sadowick explained. “Three lots have sold with another slated for purchase on the first of April.”
The park, which has been painstackingly prepared by the Sadowicks over the past three years, has a total of 20 sites. Wide tree and shrub lined roads, rustic fencing, decorative antique farm implements and extensive rock works add to the park’s charm and appeal.
Copper Ridge is completely serviced with underground hydro, cable and telephone services. Only locally built (Penticton based) Moduline homes will be allowed on the sites, ranging in size from 1050 to 1550 square feet.The park is aimed at creating affordable housing for seniors 55 years of age and over.
“They have looked after us well,” Sadowick said of Moduline. “If there are any issues with the product, they are here immediately.”
Sadowick said that the homes could be delivered within six to eight weeks.
“I believe they make some of the best modular homes around,” he said, noting such strengths as 2x6 exterior walls, cement exterior planking and four - twelve roof slopes.
The park’s present tenants come from Edmonton, Swift Current and Chilliwack.
“They are all excited about being in the Keremeos area,” Sadowick said.
Sadowick, who has done most of the work on the park himself over the past three years, said that he enjoyed building the site.
“I don’t consider it work yet,” he laughed, adding that he and Shirli-Gene had just put in a community garden this year, and held their first community barbeque at the park. They hope to sell five to six units per year, reaching capacity by 2016.