Work continues in the city to provide new entry level housing options.
That was what Yorkton Council heard Monday at its Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
Gord Shaw, Director of Planning & Engineering with the City said City Administration has continued to work with Associated Engineering on an entry level housing subdivision.
Tenders for developments on both the former C.J. Houston School property and York Colony project went out Friday, said Shaw.
"This should provide adequate time for the contractor(s) to be able to commence construction on these subdivisions this summer. It may then be possible for a builder(s) to begin construction of entry level homes by late fall this year or spring of next year," detailed a report circulated to Council.
The construction phase of homes is already being planned, said Shaw.
"The Housing Committee recently issued a proposal call to builders to construct entry level homes. The response was enthusiastic from the building community. The Housing Committee selected four builders to interview. This is expected to occur in July. Each builder will be required to provide house designs based on criteria from the Housing Committee as part of the interview," he explained in his report.
"It is anticipated that 21 single-family entry level homes will be developed in this project along with up to 21 multi-family homes either in the form of duplexes or town homes. The single-family lots are designed to have garages in the rear yard rather than the front yard. This should allow the homes to be set closer to the front property line."
Shaw said one element remains an unknown, and that is how provincial funding might factor into the plan, but he added the local committee is forging ahead pending more details.
"There has still been no information provided by Saskatchewan Housing Corporation on the Head Start on a Home program. Although details have been promised, there has been none released to-date. This does make it very difficult to try to anticipate what criteria this department may use to select projects for funding. Administration continues to progress these projects so that this community can address entry level housing in as timely a manner as possible," stated his report.
