New Heights

The new subdivision on the west end of Hudson Drive is well into development. The basement for the first (model) home will be dug this week.

Roger Vaillancourt, project manager, explained the entire subdivision will be developed in four stages with a total of 124 lots when finished two years from now.

Phase 1, involving 52 lots, is scheduled to be finished by the end of next summer.

A cut above

The homes in the new subdivision will have an upscale appeal, according to Vaillancourt, who says there are specific features that he hopes will make these homes stand out.

For example, there won’t be any vinyl siding used, rather an imitation wood-like option called CanExcel, which is slightly more expensive.

“The houses are Laprise homes, we will bring them in to be assembled, they are like a kit,” Vaillancourt explained. “It takes about six weeks to assemble the homes and we will construct them on the basement.”

The cost of the homes will run from $350,000 right on to $500,000 and can be of any of more than 600 designs found on the Laprise website (a Quebec based company).

“The price includes taxes and everything, like a double garage if someone wants that,” he added. “We do the landscaping, seeding, sidewalks, water and sewer. We don’t finish the basement, but it is insulated and it is a full (height) basement ready to develop.”

Town abreast

It’s a good news development for the Town of Labrador City, said Jeff Boland, as the developer is taking the responsibility for everything right down to streetlights and fire hydrants.

“We are very aware of their plans and we they are very good with keeping us informed,” said Boland, town manager. “When this is finished, what happens is we sign off that we are satisfied it’s all done according to our standards. And there is a one-year warranty period from that [finish] date, where the responsibility for maintenance lies with the developer; then after that, it rests with the Town.”

Boland said he has faith the project will prove to be a good development for town as the economic boom rides into a peak period and the demand for housing is high.

The company has provided a performance security that translates into 50 per cent of the construction value.

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about, we have security that is the same for any development or major tender,” said Boland. “Then there is a warranty deposit in place that we can kick in if anything goes wrong.”

Hudson Heights

The subdivision which is now referred to as the Hudson Drive West Extension will probably get a name change, at least that’s what Vaillancourt is hoping and the request is already gone to the Town.

“We want to make it different; and they are more expensive houses. The cul-de-sac is where the higher-end homes will be, overlooking the [Quartzite] Lake.” - Roger Vaillancourt, project manager

“We would like the subdivision to be called Hudson Heights,” he said. “Well, for a number of reasons. It’s physically on higher ground and it’s easier to say. Also we have requested to name the (four) streets in the subdivision with bird names. Like say, Cardinal, Orioles or for some other birds.”

He does admit the focus is on an upscale image, with heights and the birds giving an above-the-ground touch; in the end he wants Hudson Heights to be the high-end place to live in Labrador City.

“We want to make it different; and they are more expensive houses,” he said. “The cul-de-sac is where the higher-end homes will be, overlooking the [Quartzite] Lake.”

Model home plus four

The model home that will go into construction this week, he explained, will contain high quality features and materials designed to entice homebuyers.

The model home will be average size and will be sold at the end of the project. Once the model is constructed, four homes will then be built immediately after.

“We will build four houses to put up for sale, and when we sell them we will build another four,” said Vaillancourt. “We will roll it out like that, build four at a time. We have our own contractor Parmon Construction to put up the houses.”

The speed at which the houses are built will depend totally on the demand, he says, so if there is a flood in the demand, crews will be brought in to keep up with the pressure to build quickly.

“If someone wants to buy a house, they will likely want to move in by Christmas and we will do that,” he said. “Yes, we will bring in as many workers as we need to keep up.”

He doesn’t anticipate any a problem selling the homes as interest, he said, has been very strong already.

Future on higher ground

The development is set to be completed with 124 homes by 2012.

As for now, crews are working seven days a week, 12 hours per day. Vaillancourt would like to see as many as 20 homes sold this year but says even 10 would be a great success.

RSM Mining will serve as its own real estate agent and will have an office set up in the new model home that is currently being built.

Vaillancourt sees a bright future for further housing developments in Labrador City and doesn’t mind looking beyond 2012 when the subdivision is complete.

“The whole thing hopefully will be called Hudson Heights when it is finished,” he said. “And, in the future, hopefully we can go higher up the hill with more projects if the markets demands.”