At the Wednesday meeting of Probus Dana and his builder, Mike Voskamp, provided drawings and details about the proposed single-storey buildings set to be built east of Victoria Street and south of Colborne Creek.
If Dana gets approval for zoning changes from Cramahe Council this spring he hopes to start one of the two buildings with possible residency this fall.
The proposed residential development is being proposed for part of a parcel of land bought by the Johnston family back in the 1980's. When the original subdivision plan was approved in 1988-9 the zoning allowed for a three-storey apartment. In the interim, houses were built along the outside edges of the property.
Dana says the timing is right to get together with Mike Voskamp, one of the prominent builders in Cramahe, to build the two townhouse-style buildings. One will house four condominium apartments, the other, five. All will have attached garages and be approximately 1,200 square feet. Construction will start when they have some units pre-sold.
The condominiums fit within most of the parameters of a study done in 2007 by Lakeport resident, Clare Musselman.
In his study Clare found that most people wanted a home costing between $175,000 and $250,000. Most of the 19 people who returned their surveys wanted two bedrooms plus an office or den. They wanted handicap compatibility, an eat-in kitchen, air conditioning, high-speed internet, new appliances and a deck or balcony.
The Johnston units will be heated by forced-air air exchangers. The only element which appeared to be lacking from the survey was the deck. They will be built on slabs, with frost walls to eliminate cold penetration.
The base units complete with appliances are expected to cost $180,000 and the end units are expected to be about $10,000 more. Dana says they can put anything the buyers want in the condominiums including granite counter tops, gas fireplaces and skylights - but they will add to the cost. Mike agreed and added that radiant in-floor heating could be installed. But he noted that it would duplicate the heating already being installed.
Using his many years in the automotive business as his guide, Dana explained the rationale for offering the units as condos. It was his experience that you want to buy something if you think it will appreciate over time. If it is going to diminish in value, you lease. He anticipates that the condo fees might be about $100 a month. One the condos are occupied the owners will have to establish a board of directors to manage the common elements.
This was the first public presentation of the development. The project goes to council on February 16 for re-zoning. Dana has made arrangements with local real estate salesperson, George Boycott, to evaluate anyone's home who might be considering the move.
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