Here and there

It looks like the end has come for the Summerland Hills Golf Resort
Development as Brandenburg Properties of California and the local partner Robin Agur, the Summerland entrepreneur who dreamed of this course for years, have called it quits for the billion-dollar development. It had such good possibilities but the time certainly is not right now for such an expensive development.

Robin was so proud of the of the idea and I remember driving the property with him a few years ago and he was telling me the story of how his grandfather owned the original land he had purchased for the development of
the golf community. He told me at that time part of it was already zoned as a site for a trailer/RV park so it could always be used. But the golf city they would create up there was really the dream that made them invest well over $1 million in the preparation of the plans and the promotion to make the idea work. It certainly was the right time to make the move but negotiations and delays made it impossible to continue.

We have about seven golf courses in the Interior that are in this position at the moment although I always thought the Summerland project was going to be winner.

A few years ago Lee Brandenburg, the principal in Brandenburg Properties of San Jose CA was touted by an ex-Okanagan resident living and working in the States, that he should go up to Canada for a driving trip and take a look at what was happening in the Okanagan development situation. So Lee did just that and ended up staying at Robin Agur’s Ramada Courtyard Inn in Penticton. He was sitting on the bench out front one day and Robin walked over and introduced himself and they begin talking. Brandenburg asked about the development in the area and told Robin that his company had built
golf courses as well in the U.S. Robin being the entrepreneur that he has always been said, “I have something for you.” He went on to show him the plans for the Summerland project and they became partners in the development.

It worked well and except for the road blocks was an exciting project. It just took far too long to roll out and before they knew it the partnership was facing an economic world crisis that wasn’t about to go anywhere soon.

Note: I always liked the name Giants Head Golf Resort because I could see the commercial possibilities of the name and the logo created for retail marketplace. It wasn’t to be and nobody listened to me anyway.

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There I was reading the papers I receive everyday and I get to U.S. Today and the headline reads: Since 2003 65,000 U.S. flights with maintenance problems have taken off anyway. This is just as many people in the Okanagan prepared for their annual holiday down south and you have to wonder which of the planes you’ll be on has a maintenance problem. Can you just imagine how many passengers have been on those flights that should not have taken off because they were not properly maintained?

Are we fortunate for the regulations that Ottawa has over the maintenance procedures we have in this country? I think we are. Never have we heard of such stories in the airline business in this country because of the quality of people who work as airline mechanics and the continuous inspection by the airlines that fly in this country.

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For twenty years Chaparral Industries have been a thriving business in Kelowna and they have become internationally known for the superb modular homes they build. Brothers John and Jim Pushor build both commercial and residential.

Their good work has brought them a new contract from the Federal and Provincial governments for senior’s rental housing through BC Housing. These homes have been designed for both seniors and people with disabilities. The contracts calls for forty-four units for a $1.9 million price tag.

The company will add twenty people for the project so the job creation will benefit the community here as well.

John Pushor, who is the sale manager of Chaparral Industries said, “We’re very excited about this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for Chaparral, and it’s going to stimulate local economic growth in a time when it’s much needed.”
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He has built a solid reputation in the home building business in this province. Kevin Edgecombe has again received three gold Tommie awards and seven silver in the annual event that just took place at the Delta Grand Okanagan. The gold winners were the show home at Wilden, the Martin Lofts
and a spectacular home at High Point.

I remember back when Kevin started his business and it was a different time and certainly different circumstances than we find ourselves in today. It was all about integrity, excellence, creativity and detail. “We’re proud of our team,” said Kevin Edgecombe. “The creative vision of all those involved is evident in the projects we take on.”

They are very good at what they do.