Duane Hicks
With the first phase of work on the Huffman subdivision wrapping up this fall, the town has seen some interest in the new lots from prospective buyers.
“At this point, we have not begun our marketing for the lots but we do have serious inquiries and fully anticipate some formal sales in the next little while,” said Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig.
“There are finishing touches being put on the documents of sale for this subdivision,” he added.
Once construction activities begin winding down for this year, the town will be able to get in there and start putting up signage as well as begin a marketing campaign in earnest, noted McCaig.
“It is always good for potential buyers to be able to see something that resembles a finished product,” he remarked.
“That has traditionally been the Fort Frances experience.”
Back in June, town the adjusted and finalized prices for the 16 lots—six of which front Williams Avenue and 10 of which will front a cul-de-sac now being constructed off Fifth Street East.
The lots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prices range from $39,900 for the five smaller lots to $65,000 for the two largest ones.
The town said the lots will be fully-serviced with water, sewer, power, and natural gas, as well as be building permit-ready, by the fall.
Curbing, gutters, and paving are proposed for next year, which is included in the current lot price.
The town is accepting a 10 percent deposit for the lots.
Once the lots are completed this fall, the sale will be completed within 45 days.
The buyer then will have five building seasons to construct their new home.
For more information, contact municipal planner Faye Flatt at 274-5323 ext. 275 or via e-mail at fflatt@fort-frances.com
The town embarked on the new subdivision to meet the need for affordable housing lots within the community.
There have been no new subdivision developments by the private sector here since 1994.
In recent years, the town has become aware that numerous homes were constructed outside its municipal boundaries because of the lack of building lots in Fort Frances.
The town believes the anticipated Rainy River Gold Project north of Barwick also will create a need for more housing in the next couple of years.
