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miler's pond

Millar’s Pond housing project gets go-ahead At least 200 applicants are expected to enter the lottery for the right to purchase one of the 85 units in the Millar’s Pond affordable housing project, which will be built by next winter.

Millar’s Pond housing project gets go-ahead At least 200 applicants are expected to enter the lottery for the right to purchase one of the 85 units in the Millar’s Pond affordable housing project, which will be built by next winter. Council Monday approved a plan by Columbus Properties Development Group to purchase the municipally-owned land for $10. The Columbus development proposal was chosen over six other submissions. The proposed purchase prices for the townhomes are: 3 bedroom, $144,609 2 bedroom, $114,000 1 bedroom, $76,827 Bachelor w. loft, $58,860 The units will be available to Whistler residents who are first-time home buyers. Purchasers’ employers or businesses must be members of the Whistler Valley Housing Society. The project, the first of what the Housing Society hopes will be several affordable/employee housing projects built in 1996, consists of 15 two- and three-storey buildings. They will include at-grade parking under the buildings. Construction costs are estimated at $124 per square foot. Columbus assumes all risks in the project and will provide a turn-key operation. The company will also do all marketing for the project. Columbus principals include Bob Adams, owner of The Grocery Store, Barry Jinks, president and CEO of Spectrum Signal Processing, Bill Jamieson of Pipestone Investment Corporation, Jim Wyse of James & Company Ltd., Development Manager Matthew Cote and Construction Manager Greg Stratton. The project may also be subject to a specific price control formula, which would restrict the re-sale price of the units. That issue, which Councillor Thelma Johnstone objected to and which has not been placed on previous employee housing projects, will be among the subjects discussed when council holds a workshop on affordable housing in January. The workshop will be public but is primarily intended for council and staff. It will address various mechanisms and controls regarding affordable and employee housing.