A pair of companies are proposing developments that could make a serious dent in Estevan's housing shortage if they were to come to fruition.
The two projects were presented at the April 15 regular meeting of city council. One is for a modular home park on land that is currently owned by the City just south of the Willow Greens Mobile Home Park. The other is a four storey apartment building which, if approved, would be built on the site of the former Valley View School on the 700 block of Third Street.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said he was pleased to see the two proposals reach council and looks forward to seeing how they progress.
"Moving projects like this forward will help us in the short term," Ludwig said.
The modular home proposal was submitted by the Regina-based West D Construction. Acting upon a request for proposals by the City, West D is offering to purchase 61.77 acres of land south of Willow Greens for a modular home park which could accommodate as many as 474 single sectional homes which are 20 feet wide.
The proposal is similar to one the City had looked into two to three years ago and is seen as a way of creating more affordable residential homes.
In his submission to council, West D president Kurtis Dmuchowski said the park would be registered as a bare land condo, which means the homeowners would purchase their lot along with their home.
"This makes affordable home ownership much more attainable for first time home buyers as lenders are far more receptive to this type of purchase as compared to a home purchase on a pad rental situation," Dmuchowski said in his letter. "This will be attractive to families looking to live in Estevan in a well maintained, landscaped, affordable setting."
Ludwig said the concept of the homeowners also owning their lot is appealing to the City.
"We want residents to own their own land because then they have a sense of pride and a sense of ownership," he said.
Dmuchowski's offer is $10,500 per acre for an overall purchase price of $648,585. He would also be responsible for the off-site development levy which is $94,002 per acre or $5.80 million.
The information from the City's land development division noted the sale is subject to the successful rezoning and subdivision. Other requirements include the raising of the site grade to 500 milimetres above the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency's one in 500 year flood design elevation. Provisions must also be made for controlling and discharging storm drainage from the park and lands located north and east which currently flow through the area in question. Those measures were deemed necessary as the land is low-lying and could be susceptible to future floods similar to those of 2011.
Dmuchowski said he would start Phase 1 of the park (75 sites) immediately after the deal is complete and is confident that "we would be commencing site work and services on the first phase by early to mid-summer, with homes available for occupancy in early fall 2013.
"I am confident this development will be a welcomed addition to the city of Estevan by its citizens, mayor and city council."
Council approved a request from land development manager Rob Denys to prepare and present a purchase/development agreement for review and consideration by council as well as Dmuchowski.
The proposed apartment building on the Valley View land would have 47 much-needed units for the Estevan rental market.
The land in question is currently owned by LutherCare Communities, the company that owns two senior living facilities on the same block. Although they had plans to build a third senior housing complex on the land, the company will not be pursuing that plan and has a tentative agreement to sell the property to Pinetree Wholesale of Vancouver.
The information presented to council said the land is currently zoned for institutional purposes and would need to be rezoned to a residential medium density zone to allow for the apartment building.
Council gave first reading to a bylaw to rezone the land. The City will now give residents in the area two weeks to voice any concerns they might have about the apartment building.
