The Bean's Moment with the Mayor: December 8

Hi,

November 29^th was an exciting day as we officially hosted the sod-turning ceremony to launch Brookhollow Estates. The first stage of this 115 acre, multi-stage development includes 58 lots for single, detached housing, 16 lots for townhouses, 3 lots for multiple-unit dwellings (i.e. duplex, 4-plex), 3 lots for high-density residential (apartments), and 1 lot for seniors housing.

This is an important step in addressing the significant housing shortage we are facing in Kindersley. It is key to our growth and our future. Over the course of the next ten years, with staged development, Brookhollow Estates could become the home for more than 3,500 new friends and neighbours in Kindersley. Further, Wynn Sturm, the developer, also announced that he is in discussions with a company to develop a seniors housing complex.

Some of the lot prices are expensive - a single home lot starts around $92,900. However, there are lots available for sale in which two residential units (duplex) can be built. The price of one of those lots is $109,000 but since it has two units on it, only half of the price is apportioned to each unit, thereby reducing the cost of the duplex and making it more affordable. Likewise with the other multiple unit dwellings - each unit shares in a portion of the cost of the lot. As a result, the unit becomes more affordable.

We are aware that this does not sufficiently address our current need for affordable housing. I want to assure you we are working on this challenge. I wish we could do everything at once but we aren’t able. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has made this a key item in their agenda this year and we are working with them on housing as well. Further, we are collaborating with other levels of government to bring affordable housing here.

As I said, this development is exciting. Businesses can now better plan their human resource strategies knowing that new housing has started.

I hope you have many good celebrations this month. Please be safe and act responsibly; we have had too many accidents this year.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.

Have a good week!