Local Community Advertising
Residents of the Central Mobile Park on Casorso Road got the news they have been fearing for a long time yesterday. The land has been purchased by development company Kerkhoff Construction.
While the future of the 24 acres is uncertain, so are the futures of 132 tenants.
"It's very serious because where can we go?" said Rina Lundgaard. "We don't have money in our bank account to go buy someplace else," added her husband Barry Patterson. "We're just completely lost."
"My guess would be that they're going to give us a year's notice," reasoned Robert Hepting. With few nearby places to move mobile homes, most will end up being purchased by the developer.
"My understanding is that they will have to pay us out at the assessed value," he added.
But in today's real estate market that could leave some with few options. "What are our options to go where?" questions Hepting.
Lavonne Brown is worried about her future. She's 90-years-old and legally blind.
"For me to relocate somewhere is going to be quite difficult," she said. "But I understand you can't stop developers to come in and when you don't own the property that's the chance you take."
"It's a free country," said resident Guido Rissone with a shrug, "He owns the place, he wants to sell it, he (found) a buyer, (there's) nothing to do."
Still, for many residents, it's being seen as a dark cloud over their future.
"The majority of us in here don't have anything secure," explained Patterson, "but what we have here."
Jan Brander was out gardening today in a park that is full of tall trees and well-tended gardens. "Eventually we'll have to move. We don't know how long," she told us. But she plans to make the best of the time she has left at Central Mobile Park.
"The longer it takes the better," she said with a smile.
After announcing the company's $15 million purchase, Leonard Kerkhoff told KelownaNow future design plans for the property could include a long term independent living that could suit the needs of some current tenants of the mobile home park.
"We'll be meeting with the residents currently living on the site," he promised, "and will work with them to share our vision and hear their ideas for the site."
Local Community Advertising