"We immediately knew that it would be a great location for a family-oriented housing development when it was listed on MLS," said Gary Judge of Judge Construction, who bought the large, rectangular parcel of land in partnership with FCP Smart Builder (owners Felix and Evelyn Pao) about 10 months ago. "From the start, our goal was to use this project to help this area of the city grow. We've (brother Chani and father Gurmail) been in Winnipeg for over seven years, mainly the Weston area. We specialize in fixing up homes for families."
Now, with all the demolition and due diligence done, the site -- which is two blocks west of McPhillips Street on Manitoba Avenue -- is about to be transformed into a housing development with 25 new, entry-level homes, said realtor Joe Pereira.
"The idea is to provide affordable, high-quality housing," said Pereira, who is marketing the development along with realtor John Rodrigues, both of whom represent Coldwell Banker Realty. "The homes will range from $189,000 to $249,000. It's the first development of its kind in the area in quite some time, and we believe it will attract a diverse group of people."
Rodrigues said it's been five decades or more since a new development has broken ground in the area.
"It's been 50 years since this type of project happened here, and we're proud to be part of the group that's making it happen," he said. "The key is that the homes will be affordable. These days, most entry-level homes come in at around $270,000 for new construction, so $189,000 is very affordable."
Judge added prospective buyers can expect to get excellent bang for their buck.
"First of all, the homes will have Logix Form foundations, which are similar to ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) foundations, and are manufactured right here in the city," he said. "The Logix Form will provide an insulation factor of R23.8, which is above the standard here. It also simplifies the construction process. Not only do you get a superior R value, but you can also apply drywall directly to the foundation, which saves time and reduces construction costs. In the long run, it will save money and reduce heating and cooling costs significantly."
All homes will be raised bi-level designs set on lots that will range in size from 25 feet wide by 122 feet deep to 36 feet wide by 122 feet deep, added Pereira. Each home will have access to a rear lane, where garages will be situated. The sizes will be in the 800-square-foot range for smaller homes, with the largest measuring in at 1,250 sq. ft.
Although the project -- fittingly dubbed Florence Nightingale Housing Development -- is in its early stages, everyone in the area is excited, said Judge.
"Everyone in the community is on board and excited about it. The demand has been big. Overall, the response to the project has been phenomenal. We're going to do our best to turn the site into a housing development that will be a good place for growing families to put down roots," he said.
Not only is the community on board with the project, but so too are all three levels of government.
"Their assistance has been invaluable," Rodrigues said. "In particular, the city's development department has been great. They were very helpful in getting the zoning done in a timely manner -- they seem genuinely excited about what's happening here. Mike Pagtakan, city councillor for the area, has been very supportive. Qualified applicants for homes can realize up to 75 per cent off their taxes for five years from the city; you can't beat that."
Now, it's a matter of taking the development from the drawing board to reality, said Judge.
"Construction is starting immediately, with phase one of the project having eight lots," he said. "We're projecting that homes will be ready for possession by late March or early-to-mid April 2009. Once it's finished, it's going to be a special place. We're going to landscape all the properties to maintain the beauty of the area, and we've even hired people who live in the neighbourhood to work on the project -- it's important that the community be part of what we're doing. We're just as excited as they are about what's about to happen."
For more information on the new Florence Nightingale Housing Development, call Joe Pereira at 227-4756 or John Rodrigues at 227-2203, or visit www.go4homeinfo.com.
lewys@mts.net
