Residents of the Lake Villa Manufactured Home community have a new landlord.
Last week, the Auburn Hills-based Christopher Investment Company sold the park to KDM Development in Rochester, New York.
‘They own it now,? said Greg Christopher. ‘He’s a good guy and I’m sure he’ll do a good job. Hopefully he’ll work with the community like we did.?
Christopher was referring to one of KDM’s owners, Ken Burnham, who is now the sole owner of Lake Villa. Burnham has owned the Clinton Villa Mobile Home Park in Independence Twp. since 2004.
Christopher sold the park because he has leukemia and needs to travel out of state for his treatments.
‘I wanted to get closer to my hospital in Texas,? he said. Depending on how ‘extensive? his bone marrow treatments are, Christopher said he’ll probably be moving there.
He was sad about having to sell Lake Villa. ‘I’m sorry that this happened,? he said. ‘I never, ever intended to sell anything, that’s why I did a lot of work there.?
When Christopher purchased Lake Villa in December 1994, it contained 220 units and was using a sewage treatment plant, which meant it was not in compliance with state health standards.
Today, the park has 851 units (thanks in part to Christopher’s purchase of Oxford Manor, a neighboring mobile home park) and is tied in to the township sewer system. A deal brokered by Christopher last year made Lake Villa part of the township’s water system as well.
Christopher said he’ll miss working with township officials.
‘When you have people at the township you can work with, it’s really great,? he said. ‘I’ve had the greatest relationship with (Trustee) Pat Fitchena. She’s so levelheaded and so fair.?
He’ll also miss Lake Villa’s residents.
‘I’ve had some great tenants,? he said.
Over the years, Christopher has been a generous neighbor to both the village and township. He donated $5,000 toward the installation of the traffic signal at intersection of Glaspie and E. Burdick St./Lakeville Rd.
Last year, Christopher donated $1,000 to help the Oxford High School student council paint the giant Wildcats logo on the new water tower on N. Oxford Rd.
Over the years, Christopher has also funded construction of soccer fields at Seymour Lake Township Park, installed an asphalt walkway to the gazebo at Stony Lake Park and was a regular sponsor of the Dream Developers golf outing, an annual fund-raiser for the Parks and Rec. Department.
‘Any time I needed something, I could call him up and he would be the first one to either sponsor it or give me some direction on to how to get it accomplished,? said Parks and Rec. Director Ron Davis. ‘He’s been an asset to the department.?
‘He’s one of those business owners you enjoy having in your community because he makes it a better place through his involvement,? Davis added. ‘I know he’s done a lot for other people whether its the civic clubs or Cub Scouts. He’s just an asset to everybody here.?
Christopher still owns four manufactured home parks in Shelby Township, Lapeer, Independence Township and Auburn Hills.
When asked if he plans to sell those as well, he replied, ‘It depends on my treatments. I don’t know for sure.?
Christopher sold four of his communities in 2004 and two more last year.
Although he no longer owns Lake Villa, Christopher honored his agreement with the township and recently paid $7,000 for a study being conducted by Giffels-Webster Engineers.
The study will determine if the park is entitled to a discount or credits on its water and sewer bills for the costs it incurs for billing, collections, repairs, maintenance and leakage.
‘They’re working on that now,? he said. ‘Out of courtesy to the buyer, we’ll finish that up for him.?