The move date has finally come for residents of Ivy Green Mobile Home in Ladysmith.
After months of delays and setbacks, developers said they anticipate moving some of the residents by the end of January.
“We’re starting to move,” Dave Stalker, co-owner of LMF Developments said of the units. “By the end of the month we hope to have half a dozen or more in there.”
Stalker, along with Chris Kaeble and Jag Basi, is building the new park.
He added some are expecting to move in a week or two.
Residents of the 40-unit mobile home park were given eviction notices in January of 2009 so the owners, Oak Bay Marine Group, could redevelop the site.
Because of delays that included weather, engineering and electricity issues, the residents’ leases were extended.
The original relocation date was the end of September.
“I think we’re doing a first,” Stalker said. “It’s never been done before. Normally you have an eviction notice and that’s it.”
Twenty-three people are moving to the new lot at the end of Fourth Avenue.
Shirley Kolompar, spokesperson for the residents, and her husband, John, are some of them.
Shirley said once they got the eviction notices everyone was worried.
“It was sort of a shocker and sort of not,” she said. “There were rumours, but we didn’t think it would be that fast.”
Many residents were worried about the cost of moving and there was talk of increasing prices.
“The pad price is the same,” Stalker explained.
“The only increase is to do with the actual set up of the unit itself.”
Stalker said some of the volunteer work they had fell through, resulting in the higher cost of setting up electricity to each unit.
The prices for the lots were dependant on the size. For example, a 40-foot lot’s monthly rent is $350.
He said some cost increases also relate to permit arrangements to meet code and any structural foundations that may have to be built for additions to the unit.
Basi said each unit will now be up to code and CSA approved.
Stalker said some of the problems stems from that.
“A lot of units require a lot of money to be spent,” he said. “But for the most part everything’s been trouble free.”
The Kolompars were one of the three from the park who bought a new trailer instead of relocating their current one.
Shirley said there have been some frustrations along the way, but it’s to be expected and they are looking forward to their new digs.
“It’s something to look forward to,” she said.
“Once everyone’s settled and moved in, I think everyone’s going to be happy.”
Now, Stalker said he’s relieved to be starting the relocation process.
“You wouldn’t believe...” he laughed.