Owens Family Builds Belmont Cove Into Premiere 50+ Independent Living Community for Seniors
By Van Mitchell, staff writer
Gary Owens is a familiar face locally with his television commercials as owner of Galleria Furniture.
But Owens is also in the construction business where he and his son Justin have built Belmont Cove into one of the premiere 50+ independent living communities, with one located in Yukon at 1650 S Czech Hall Road, and the newest one in Oklahoma City, at 14604 Parkway Center.
Gary and his son, Justin, are owners and builders at Belmont Cove. Gary started construction in 1978, then added his son, Justin Owens and now grandson, Dawson Owens has been added, making this a great family-oriented team, all local to the area.
“We do probably 40% of the work ourselves, which allows us to pass the cost saving onto our residents, with about a 20% savings over the competitors’ pricing,” Gary Owens said. “We have a great full time construction crew, thanks to our leaders and building superintendents. Jake Sellers has been with us for 25 years, Edgar Escamilla 25 years, and Carlos Escamilla 25 years.We have great office staff as well, with Carolyn Kulbeth assisting clients at the Yukon location and Claudia Escamiila taking care of the clients at the OKC North location.”
Gary Owens said each location features maintenance free luxury high-quality homes with hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops.
He said their units come with a fire suppression system, security alarm, and a 1-car garage with door opener. These also come with a covered patio in the small yard with a stockade fence.
“Our Yukon location boasts easy access to I-40, dining and shopping areas and medical facilities. This community features walking paths, pet-friendly homes, and a clubhouse with a pool as well as regular scheduled activities. Each unit has 1,076 square feet of quality living space, hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, granite, ceramic tile, and so much more,” Owens said.
Owens said each Belmont Cove North unit has 1,200 square feet of quality living space, fully furnished or unfurnished, with all the amenities of the Yukon location.
He said coming soon is a 7,000 square foot clubhouse and pool. The clubhouse will have an indoor pickleball court with 4 regulation sized courts in a heated and cool environment.
Owens said Phase 1 is now complete and leasing for units is open. The full development will hold 320 units when each phase is complete. “Coming soon will be our location in Moore with all the same amenities as the first two locations. There will be a clubhouse with pickleball, a pool, walking trails, and so much more, making this a great place to live,” Owens said.
Owens first got into senior independent living construction in the 1990s.
“We built one of these in the ‘90s in Mustang,” he said. “And a guy called me one day and said, “Would you sell it? “ And I did. I sold it to him, and I have regretted it ever since.”
Fast forward about a decade later, Owens was looking for affordable senior living for his mother-in-law.
“My father-in-law was my building superintendent and he passed away. And so, I was looking for a place for my mother-in-law to move into,” he said. “And we couldn’t find anything new that she could really afford. And so, I thought, well, I ought to just build some of these and help myself and help the senior citizens. So, we did.”
Owens said they started Belmont Cove about 9 years ago in the original Yukon location.
For more information call (405)-805-COVE or visit www.belmontcove.com.
