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Seniors welcome new housing development

Developers, officials and occupants are buoyant over the completion of new affordable housing aimed at seniors in North Battleford.
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A look at the completed fourplexes developed by Battle Valley Enterprises on 104th Street in North Battleford. The development's grand opening took place Tuesday morning. A total of 20 completed units have been rented out to seniors of moderate income, helping address a need for affordable housing in the Battlefords.

Developers, officials and occupants are buoyant over the completion of new affordable housing aimed at seniors in North Battleford.

The official ribbon cutting took place Tuesday morning to mark the completion of five new fourplexes from Battle Valley Enterprises on the 900 block of 104th Street North Battleford's inner city.

A total of 20 new 750 square foot rental units, each consisting of two bedrooms with detached garages, are part of the development. The units are to be rented to seniors of moderate income over age 55.

Construction of the units had been going on for about a year and a half after the Alberta-based Battle Valley Enterprises acquired the property.

"We are really proud of it. We have some extremely happy tenants that have moved in," said Carl Jackson, president of Battle Valley Enterprises.

The project addresses a need for rental units for seniors in North Battleford. As Jackson noted, "we had absolutely no trouble finding tenants."

All 20 of the units are now occupied. Jackson said there is a short waiting list now for prospective tenants still seeking units.

He said the project was made possible in large part due to the partnership with the federal, provincial and municipal government. Funding of $1.5 million was made available to the project through Canada's Economic Action Plan, with the federal and provincial governments contributing equally under that plan. The total cost for the project came to $3.5 million, with the remaining money raised through bank loans or other private financing.

The project got off the ground in the fall of 2010. The first unit was built by Battle Valley on their own without government support. Fortunately, Jackson said, they were able to get the support of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and SaskHousing, as well as from the City, to build the full 20 units.

Jackson also noted the project, completed a few blocks away from the downtown, is in line with the city's vision of revitalization of the downtown core.

The start of construction had been greeted with a warm welcome from neighbours, who were glad to see redevelopment come to what was a run-down neighbourhood. After Battle Valley Enterprises bought the land, they went ahead with demolition work on four run-down houses on the property.

"We had some of the neighbours clapping," Jackson noted when those houses came down.

The ribbon cutting was held at the unit of Tom Zerre, who opened his home up to the various VIPs. Among the various officials he welcomed to his living room were mayor Ian Hamilton and Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Larry Doke.

Zerre says he is happy with his new digs on 104th Street.

"I am actually quite delighted about it," said Zerre. "It's a project that's necessary for seniors; and me being a senior, I needed a new bedroom to live in. It's a necessary thing for seniors like myself."

Zerre, a widower, uses one of the bedrooms as a home-office for his work in the advertising field. He says the location also allows him to be able to return home to live in North Battleford, where he grew up and was educated.

Scott Sugar of E and L Building Contractors is impressed with the finished product. His company had been contracted to construct the five four-plexes over an eighteen-month period.

He said two crews were running at the site non-stop, with local trades employed as well for plumbing and electrical work.

"It's just a beautiful project," said Sugar. "Jay (Jackson, VP of Battle Valley Enterprises) and Carl are fantastic to work with."

Mayor Ian Hamilton welcomed the completion of the project as addressing the need for affordable seniors housing in North Battleford.

"We certainly recognize the importance of it and the necessity to meet the demand for affordable seniors' housing that is self-contained and provides people with the quality of life that they desire and deserve," said Hamilton.

The latest completed project follows on the heels of the sod turning earlier this year to commence construction of the 21-unit Glencoe Developments condominium in the city's north end. Hamilton notes that project will address a separate need for "owner-occupied" affordable housing in the city.

As for the location of the Battle Valley units, Hamilton adds it is "exciting to see new development" so close to the downtown core, which helps meet the City's objectives.

Hamilton adds the city plans to look for ways to address the need for affordable housing.

For their part, Battle Valley Enterprises is hoping to do another affordable-housing project in the city in the near future, according to Jackson.

That next project is still in the early planning stages, though, as the company is working with the city to determine a suitable location.

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