The Town of Hay River took a major step on March 16 toward developing the Fraser Place subdivision and bringing added housing to the community.

Council approved the awarding of a tender of $3.17 million to Blackstone Homes during a special meeting.

The contract will provide for the clearing of the area, the installation of underground utilities and preparation of a road base prior to lot sales.

Senior administrative officer Glenn Smith said sales of lots could begin as early as this year.

SA国际影视传媒淭his phase of construction is planned to be completed this year,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said. SA国际影视传媒淟ots, in general, will be available for development in 2023.SA国际影视传媒�

Because the area is zoned R1B, both stick-built and modular units will be permitted.

The town is still in the midst of updating its zoning bylaw for councilSA国际影视传媒檚 approval before this summer and itSA国际影视传媒檚 expected that there will be more zoning variation in the subdivision, Smith added.

BlackstoneSA国际影视传媒檚 successful bid came ahead of two other applicants: one from RoweSA国际影视传媒檚 Construction ($3.36 million) and Green Acre Ventures ($3.83 million).

Town of Hay River administration has said in recent council meetings that Fraser Place development will be a beneficial part of the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 multi-year effort to address housing demand because it is located in an area that is easily serviced.

Mayor and council said on Wednesday night that the approval of the tender represents a significant step forward for increasing housing supply in the community and for a project that has been more than a decade in the making.

SA国际影视传媒淭his has been a long process and I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting for the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Kandis Jameson. SA国际影视传媒淲e have no land in inventory and (this project) is going to give us close to 30 lots back up.SA国际影视传媒�

With a boost in economic activity anticipated in Hay River in the near-future SA国际影视传媒� including construction and operation of the new commercial fish plant and the tear-down of the H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital this year SA国际影视传媒� Jameson said it will be an opportune time for the town to take stock of housing needs.

SA国际影视传媒淪o I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for us and I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting that weSA国际影视传媒檙e finally moving ahead on this after many, many years,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Acting director of public works Earle Dumas said the timeline for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 work is tight with the need to clear the area for construction over the next month.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a unique project because we have to deal with bird nesting season and weSA国际影视传媒檝e got until April 30 to do all the clearing within Fraser Place in the construction zone,SA国际影视传媒� Dumas said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had issues with bird nesting season trying to get complete work done and it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 worked. As far as scheduling goes everything is slated to be completed this year.SA国际影视传媒�

Other councillors were pleased that the development is going ahead.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good to see this project moving forward,SA国际影视传媒� said Coun. Robert Bouchard. SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 about opening up availability in some different areas and maybe some multi-family stuff, potentially in that area with our new zoning (bylaw).SA国际影视传媒�