Hanmer to get more housing

BY BILL BRADLEY

A massive, mixed housing development has been approved for Hanmer. It is hoped the project will help alleviate the housing crunch in the area, said the proponents and city councillors at Tuesday’s planning committee meeting.

That is the good news. The bad news is that lot prices, home prices and apartment rentals will not be in the price range many Sudburians have been used to for years.

The development application by Lise Chenier and Philippe Landry, approved Tuesday night at the planning committee, involves the construction of 85 lots for single residential use, 42 semi-detached dwelling units and a 120-unit seniors apartment. The proposed development is on 17.6 hectares, on a narrow rural property that extends north of Cote Boulevard to the limit of the settled areas of Hanmer.

A major aspect of the development is a three-story apartment complex geared to retiring baby boomers, said Bob Kerwan, project manager. “We are making the apartments upscale with rents in the $1,200 to $1,400 per month range," he said.

Nearby resident Donald Moore opposed the development, saying that property values would depreciate and that the increased need for services caused by the development would increase property taxes.

Not so, said Kerwan. “This project, well into the $100-million range, can’t help but improve the image of Hanmer."

Already 73 people have put their names on the list for the apartments. He said the project should be underway in 2009.