The urge to build
Mark Wright has always been a builder.
He transformed a small family farm into a major feedlot operation, and he took the idea of recycling wood shavings and developed it into a thriving business that sells to a variety of industries.
So it’s not surprising that the 63-year-old Central Albertan has turned leisure time in Mexico into yet another project — a multimillion-dollar condominium complex in Manzanillo.
“I love to scheme,” said Wright. “It’s a bit of the curse of being an entrepreneur.”
Called Perla del Mar, or Pearl of the Sea, his six-storey building in Manzanillo will contain 23 luxury suites and indoor parking. Perched on the exclusive Las Brisas beach, it boasts earthquake-resistant steel construction, a saltwater pool and the leasehold rights to a broad expanse of sandy beach.
The first units are nearing completion, with Wright and his wife Vicky already living on site.
Raised on a mixed farm near Olds, Wright took over operation of the agricultural business at a young age and expanded it into Olds Land and Cattle Co. Ltd. He served as president of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, and is well-known in the beef industry.
His quest for an alternate source of livestock bedding prompted Wright to strike a deal with a lumber mill to collect its waste shavings. Li’l Shaver Inc. resulted in 1980, and today employs about 20 and sells bagged and bulk shavings in Canada and abroad.
Wright and his wife bought a condominium in Manzanillo about six years ago, after travelling extensively.
“It was an absolutely wonderful decision for us,” he said, describing the idyllic climate and low crime rate in the area.
Before long, the entrepreneur in Wright surfaced. He bought property along Las Brisas beach, and by January 2007 work on Perla del Mar had begun.
Wright has played an active role in the project, including helping design the building and its floor plans. But he’s quick to acknowledge the invaluable input of some local residents.
In addition to working with a Mexican partner, Wright praises the work of his architect, who has designed a number of homes in the affluent district. He said both men have smoothed barriers that might otherwise have stood in the path of the project, which is valued at between $8 million and $9 million.
“The things that would be an issue without understanding the language and the business customs here, we have pretty much circumvented that.”
That doesn’t mean there haven’t been challenges. Wright has found himself dealing with a mix of U.S., Canadian and Mexican currency, and the global economic downturn has decreased demand for resort properties.
Still, he’s optimistic about the marketability of Perla del Mar, given its prime location and quality.
“We look right west and watch the sun set in the ocean every night; we have a huge sandy beach; we listen to the sound of the waves all night long.”
As of last week, a dozen units had been sold — including 10 to Albertans. Wright’s connections and reputation in his home province have undoubtedly helped sales, but he also thinks Perla del Mar appeals to “northerners” because of its earthquake-tolerant construction and the fact its suites are designed as second homes rather than beach houses.
Constructing a condominium in Mexico might seem a significant departure from Wright’s past ventures. But he sees parallels between this project and the evolution of Olds Land and Cattle Co.
“That was a building process our whole lives,” he said, adding that the same was true of Li’l Shavers, with both businesses requiring entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
Wright has already obtained property for the next phase of his development work in Manzanillo. But with deep roots in Alberta, including 11 grandchildren, he doesn’t expect his second home to become more than a winter retreat.
“We’re Albertans. That’s home.”
Additional information on Perla del Mar can be found at www.manzanillorealestate.com.mx.
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
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