Duane Hicks
Those behind the proposed La Verendrye Parkway Village condominium here are excited about the renewed interest in the project, with an open house scheduled for next Wednesday (March 9) at the Civic Centre.
The public is encouraged to drop by from 5-8 p.m. to meet Thunder Bay developer Robert Zanette, as well as builder Wayne Kaun of Ed Kaun & Sons Ltd. and Re/Max sales rep Kathy Judson.
They will be on hand to answer questions as well as show floor plans and other drawings of the project, which is proposed to be built on a riverfront lot located at Front Street and Mosher Avenue (to the east of the current Riverwalk Condominiums).
“Basically, we want people to know that, yes, we are here, we are in, we are doing this, so come out and ask any questions you want to,” Judson said in an interview Monday.
She said all parties involved are looking to get going with the project, which has gained a more local marketing focus with the addition of her to the team.
The project had first been talked about in 2008, with an open house last held in May, 2009. But the project has been somewhat slow going until recently.
Judson said one of the difficulties has been that Zanette has been extremely busy with real estate contracts in Thunder Bay, Phoenix, and Kelowna.
Likewise, Re/Max broker Mario Tegola, who was in charge of selling units, also was based in Thunder Bay and busy with matters there.
Judson, who’s worked on condominium conversions, new construction projects and resale units in Vancouver, Winnipeg and the Greater Toronto Area over the past three decades, came into the picture last summer when she returned home to Emo to care for her mother.
After her mother’s passing, she decided to move her from Toronto, reactivate her real estate license and stay in the district.
“So, I looked around and decided to join Re/Max,” Judson recalled.
With a project like this,
Judson said you have a developer, a construction company that will get it built, and marketing to make it happen.
“All three components have to be very strong or you can’t get a project off the ground,” she stressed, adding that in the past short while, Kaun has come aboard as contractor, there’s a marketing plan is in place, and she is active as the local “eyes and ears” for the project.
“So now it’s just a matter of hitting streets and getting it done,” she reasoned.
Judson said she’s aware of continuing interest in the new condo development, and all parties are hopeful they can sell 23 units and get the shovel in the ground this summer.
“There’s still quite strong interest from some of the people that have been hanging in there, and we certainly appreciate the fact that they have hung in,” she noted.
“Of course, maybe if there was two or three projects on the go, they might have just said, ‘You know what, I can’t wait for that one, I’ll go to this one,’ but there isn’t.
“The reality is it’s great they have the patience to hang in there.
“But I’ve been having really great responses from people who were interested before,” Judson remarked. “Some of them, their circumstances have changed completely . . . but for the most part, the interest is there.
“There’s still a little bit of ‘I want to see it happening before I commit’ kind of thing,” she conceded. “But the fact of the matter there’s only 23 units . . . I think they will go quite quickly.
“We’re hoping to have the shovel in the ground by summer.”
Judson said she feels the condo will be “amazing” for Fort Frances and is “very, very necessary.”
“[The Riverwalk Condominium] has been full forever, pretty much, and it’s had a waiting list because there isn’t anything else like this in the area,” she remarked.
“It’s just a really nice addition to the real estate landscape in Fort Frances.”
The proposed two- and three-bedroom units are estimated to cost between $189,000 and $259,000.
Those wanting more information about the new condo are encouraged to contact Judson at 275-5633 or via e-mail at kathyjud@aol.com
