Sod turned on new Lorette development

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This article was published 13/10/2020 (1675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lorette Golf Course directors and RM of Tache elected officials gathered for a sod turning Tuesday, for the first phase of the River Ridge Development.

Located between Provincial Road 207 and the Seine River on the west side of Lorette, the first of nine phases was officially put into motion, thanks to the sod turning.

Golf course board director Allan Akins said the land was accumulated over the last decade with plans to develop it into two acre lots. That plan was changed after the municipality approached the golf course group, and asked them to consider some changes.

That resulted in ambitious plans.

The first phase alone will include 54 duplex lots for entry level home buyers, 38 large 70-foot wide single-family lots, 80 55-plus seniors active living community rental condominiums and 70 two and three bedroom rental apartments.

All this is only the beginning.

“There’s nine phases in total, that we’ve already had approved through a secondary plan and development agreement with the municipality,” he said.

Future phases will incorporate what Akins calls “active senior” living, at rates much more affordable than city living.

“We’re really working at trying to get affordable housing for seniors who really want and demand their own independence,” he said.

Akins said some who they expect to take advantage of the starter lots, are those who grew up in the country, currently live in Winnipeg, but who want to start a home for their family.

They’ll also be looking toward their golf course membership, of which 60 percent are seniors, and half of those seniors currently live in Winnipeg.

“We’ll be drawing in those people to actually join the community and be able to get into that seniors development that is going to be lower cost than what they can get in seniors homes in Winnipeg,” he said.

Akins said planning took several years and offsite infrastructure to address water and sewer needs had to be planned. He added working with the RM, both elected officials and administration worked well.

“It’s been a real team effort,” he said.