ROCANVILLE — Copper Ridge Construction is going to be building things in Rocanville for a little while longer. After the crew is finished with the new pool project, they’ll be breaking ground on something rather new for their team — senior housing.
“It feels pretty good,” said Jared Mcnary, president and owner of Copper Ridge, when asked what embarking on such a project means to him.
“We’re a construction company here, and we build here, I was born and raised here, so it’s home for us. We want to build our community.”
The plan is to develop three houses on Cameron Crescent, comprised of two triplex homes and one duplex for a total of eight units. Each would feature just over 1,700 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a two-car garage.
Mcnary and Tyler Gesy, Project Manager with Copper Ridge, explained the details of their project and fielded questions during a public meeting at the Nutrien Community Hall in Rocanville on Aug. 18.
“We’ve had community meetings the last couple of years, and one thing that always came up was people wanted more housing,” explained Rocanville Councillor Stan Langley. “More housing for when they can sell out and go into a condominium-style property. So we started looking as a REDO group, and Andrea (Logan, REDO member and Recreation Director for the Town of Rocanville) has done a lot of legwork. We found people who are interested, and it just so happens that they’re building our pool.”
The original timeline to begin construction on the project was for October, but both Gesy and Mcnary believe having shovels in the ground during September is more likely.
“As long as we get our concrete foundation in, then we can work away on the inside all through winter,” Mcnary said.
The project is receiving help from the Town of Rocanville as well, through an incentive on the lots.
“In order to help Copper Ridge out, we’re selling the lots at the sale price, but pay for half of it now, and half when the building’s done, so they don’t have to come up with all the money right away,” Langley explained when the question arose from the floor. “That’s something that we decided through council, just to help get this project going.”
As Gesy went through the finer points of the development details, floor plans, the lease agreement, and local community investment, the approximately 35 people in attendance eagerly awaited the opportunity to ask a flurry of questions.
Hometown proud
Mcnary is no stranger to Rocanville, having grown up just west of town. Back in 2012, he began a construction company, which today employs a crew of 14 employees, including three journeymen at Copper Ridge.
“He’s done lots of work around the community here, building some custom homes and renovations, agricultural buildings and things like the pool next door,” Gesy explained during his presentation. After Rocanville Town Council contacted Copper Ridge about the need for more senior housing, Mcnary asked Gesy if he was on board—an easy answer to provide.
“I have some roots that have extended to this community, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” he said.
The units themselves are all on a single level, designed to be fully accessible for all ranges of mobility. With certain investment levels, there will be benefits such as monthly rent reduction for five years and interest as well. As for utilities, Copper Ridge will cover water, sewer, gas, electrical, and property taxes as well.
“If a light fixture breaks, we’ll fix it; there’s a tap breaks, we’ll fix it; and if the shingles blow off, we’ll fix it — all that sort of stuff. That’s what we’ll worry about,” Gesy said.
Regular snow clearing and lawn maintenance are not something that Copper Ridge would not be responsible for, however.
“We’re going to landscape initially — get some grass, trees, things like that, finish it — but the upkeep of the lawn and the snow removal is something that’s going to have to be each tenant’s responsibility,” Gesy explained.
The regular rent on the units would be $2,500 per month, which would be reduced depending on initial investment.
“It is obviously expensive to build these houses, and they will be private investment for us,” Gesy said. “Copper Ridge is going to build the houses we’re going to own, maintain them, and operate them. We think it’s really important to invest in your own community and the place that you call home, and so we’re willing to put forth a lot of capital to build some houses and make sure that we can keep our residents here. And we’re hoping that you’d be interested in doing the same.”
Last week’s meeting had certainly sparked some interest, as Gesy noted having received inquiries in the days following the information night.
“A few people have reached out and said that they would commit to renting the suites, but there is still room for more,” he told the World-Spectator. “I think we should have enough to get started on at least one building right away.”
There are still a few steps before construction begins — permits and other finer details — but Gesy was still confident that the project will begin soon.
“I believe that I had initially told you that we plan to start in October, but if all goes well, we should be able to start in September,” he said.
The anticipated completion for the senior housing development is July of next year.
