Mad skills West Shore students build sumo robots Page A3
NEWS: Fires displace West Shore residents A4 ARTS: UVic graduate offers Yamaha classes A16 SPORTS: World class rinks add to curling classic A17
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Langford policy awaits first test Manufactured home owners fear impending eviction Charla Huber News staff
Ron Gunter is living on eggshells uncertain of where he would go if he had to move. The Langford senior has been living in the Lombardy manufactured home park for six and half years with his wife Colleen. The park has been up for sale for nearly two years and residents aren’t sure what the future will bring. Manufactured homes built after 1973 can be moved, but Gunter explained there aren’t many places to move the home too. His home is 1,600 square feet and includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two livingrooms. “It’s affordable housing. Now where could I get that for less than $500,000,” said Gunter. “The bank wouldn’t look at us for a mortgage if we are not working.” There are 20 homes in the park and all the residents are seniors. The oldest resident is 90 and three are living with cancer, including Gunter’s wife Colleen. “I have to worry about chemotherapy and radiation, there are other things I am deeply worried about,” Gunter said. “The land owners own the land under us. We are in a state of limbo with a threat a bulldozer coming through.” The City of Langford passed a policy in 2007 that protects residents in manufactured home parks such as Lombardy when the land is sold. The policy states the new owner must pay for disposal of homes that cannot be relocated, help the residents find new accommodation and offer them the right of first refusal for new homes built on the property. In total the policy includes 10 stipulations the new owner must oblige by. Langford Coun. Denise Blackwell has met with people interested in purchasing the park and has discussed the city’s policy. “We just want to make sure people aren’t displaced,” said Blackwell. “We believe manufactured homes are an affordable housing option and we don’t want to see people get ripped out of their homes.” PLEASE SEE: Owner hopes to retire, Page A5
Hoops hopes Belmont Bulldogs all-star forward Erik Spaven bowls over South Kamloops forward Jacob Adams during the Bulldogs’ opening round match at the B.C. Boys AAA Basketball Championships in Langley last Wednesday. Spaven scored 32 points as the Titans beat the Bulldogs 65-59. The Bulldogs lost the first two games of the tournament but finished with two wins, 11th overall among the 20 participating teams. See page A17 for more.
On the prowl again.