The first homes at the Southlands will be ready for occupancy in two years.
Brad Semke, project director for the Century Group’s major Tsawwassen development, offered that prediction during a presentation to the South Delta Probus Club Wednesday morning.
The project includes 950 housing units in various forms and densities and approximately 80,000 square feet of commercial space.
Century gave Delta 170 hectares (425 acres), about 80 per cent of the total property, to be used for agriculture, natural habitat, public open space and greenways.
It was back in 2006 when company president Sean Hodgins initially presented his ideas for the property, which had a long history of controversy, and it wasn’t until the summer of 2016 that final approval was granted.
Semke said a lot of activity is taking place now but things were delayed earlier in the year due to the non-stop rain.
The project will have some rentals but will be primarily market housing of various types to meet the needs of downsizers as well as first-time home buyers and young families, he said.
Semke noted if everything stays on schedule, the first units will go on sale in 2019 with occupancy available that same year.
“We’re going to have everything from condominiums up to single-family detached homes. The first phase has the component of higher-end townhouses that are orientated towards downsizers and third or fourth time home purchasers and we also have a smaller component of 1,300-square-foot townhouses that will appeal to the families and the first or second time homeowners.
“Coming about six months after those first townhouses will be our first cottage courtyard of 12 cottages and the plan right now is there will not be presales on them. We’re going to build them and let people look at them and put them up for sale all in one series, but that is yet to be determined.”
As far as pricing, Semke said it’s not clear where the market will be in the next two years but the intent is to have the cottage homes, which will be in the 1,400- to 1,600-square-foot range, be 10 to 15 per cent below the average resale rate for a house in Tsawwassen. He said that means extra money in the pockets of those downsizing to a cottage house, of which there could be about 100.
Semke also said about 95 per cent of the activity normally within a house, including kitchens and master bedrooms, will be within the first floor of the little houses, while the smaller second floors can be used for spare bedrooms or storage. He noted surveys found seniors don’t mind stairs but don’t want them in their everyday living.
Semke also noted car sharing is being considered whereby an electric car would be available for owners within a cottage home cluster.
Asked if a pub could be located at the site, Semke acknowledged they’ve been talking with craft breweries and that the potential to grow ingredients at the Southlands could make it a great fit.
Noting a lot of material, including more than 2,500 tires, was removed from the Southlands site, Semke also explained how the agricultural features will play out, including upwards of 100 allotment gardens for residents to self-manage. Extensive irrigation and drainage works still need to be completed.
Also among the questions from the audience was a query when dump trucks would stop going down 56th Street. Semke said about 25 per cent of the required fill is now on site.
A website is being set up at discoversouthlands.ca to outline the various housing types that will hit the market. A cottage show home is located at the Town Centre Mall.
