Duane Hicks
As the town moves forward on the process to see the “Huffman” residential subdivision on Williams Avenue become a reality, there’s positive signs that selling the lots won’t be a big problem.
At yesterday evening’s budget meeting, municipal planner Faye Flatt said she tried to contact the 26 people on a list of those who had expressed interest in lots and ask them questions, including:
•how they felt about lots prices;
•how they felt about the requirement to build a house on the lots within two construction seasons;
•how they felt about the lottery method of disposition (i.e. randomly drawing to see who can buy which lot); and
•what their preferences were for specific lots.
From the 26, Flatt got 22 responses. The bad news is 12 withdrew, with the good news being the remaining 10 still are very interested.
Two people withdrew because they felt the price for the lots (roughly $50,000-$82,000) was too high. Two others thought the prices were a bit high, but maintained interest nonetheless.
The requirement to build a house within two construction seasons influenced two people to drop out.
A couple of others said this condition caused them some concern, but knowing they have an extension gives them some solace, said Flatt.
“The general consensus was that the limitation on the building was fair, the location was good, and it was very positive,” she noted.
Council, meanwhile, also confirmed details regarding the disposition of the lots and the terms of an acknowledgement for prospective lot buyers.
Coun. Ken Perry said he looks forward to moving ahead with the initiative for which the town will recover the costs.
“We’re going to sell lots and recover the money that we’re going to spend,” he remarked.
“We’re not taking anything out of the budget, we’re not charging anybody anything,” he stressed. “Every bit of money we’re going to spend is going right back into the pot.
“We’re not going to make a million dollars on this,” Coun. Perry conceded. “We’re going to recover the costs and some administration fees.
“But we want to do it,” he said. “We want to offer these lots and you see there’s interest in having the lots, so we’re going to for it but at no cost to us.”
More information will be provided at a public meeting slated for Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
