Work is progressing on constructing a new fire hall on the Richter property in Osoyoos. A deal signed Thursday will lead to construction of affordable housing on 20 lots on the remainder of the Richter property to the south. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Town of Osoyoos has signed an agreement with Ellcar Construction of Osoyoos giving the company an option to purchase 20 residential lots on the Richter Property, the town said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.
Ellcar plans to develop the subdivided lots, which will provide affordable housing. Housing will include single family and duplex, including three subsidized units. The purchase price will be determined through land appraisals.
With the proposed density and three subsidized units, the town meets the requirements to have the land removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).
The Richter property is southwest of 74th Avenue and Highway 97 and is the location of the new fire hall. The Richter remainder is south of the fire hall site on the remaining land.
This property forms part of the Southeast Meadowlark subdivision, which extends from the Osoyoos Baptist Church to the new firehall and is slated for housing development.
The lack of affordable housing has been an impediment to attracting young families to Osoyoos to boost school enrolments.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
See Town of Osoyoos news release:
Town of Osoyoos Strikes Agreement to Sell Richter Property and Develop Affordable Housing
March 24, 2016
An option to purchase agreement signed today between the Town of Osoyoos (Town) and Ellcar Construction (Ellcar) from Osoyoos results in Ellcar agreeing to purchase 20 residential lots to be subdivided in the area known as the Richter Property. EllCar’s intension is build 20 moderately priced homes that will assist the Town in achieving its goals of providing affordable housing in the community. The Town has also provided Ellcar with a “first right of refusal to purchase” on the remaining 6 lots. Housing units to be developed will include single family and duplex homes, including 3 units of subsidized housing which will enable the Town to meet its commitments to the Agricultural Land Commission to have the land removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve. The purchase price is to be determined through pending land appraisals.
Mayor Sue McKortoff
“Town Council is very pleased to sign this option to purchase agreement with Ellcar Construction, a local company with a strong history of development and construction in Osoyoos. Ellcar Construction has built many homes in Osoyoos using local labor and supply companies. Construction of these moderately priced and subsidized units will assist existing residents to achieve home ownership and attract new families to our community. Council appreciates the spirit and vision that Ellcar President, Hart Buckendahl has brought to this project.”
The Town is currently working to finalize the subdivision plan, which will then enable a survey of lands and a subdivision servicing plan to be completed. Development of area services are targeted for October 2016 and Ellcar Construction is targeting construction of 4 homes to start in late summer or early fall.
Ellcar President Hart Buckendahl
“We are extremely pleased to be working with the Town of Osoyoos in a new venture of high density affordable housing. With the ever increasing costs of housing there are many people that are being shut out from ever being able to own their own home. With the new homes being proposed it will give many people an opportunity to live the dream to own their own property. We feel extremely confident that the market is right and are happy to be working together with the Town in a new venture that has not been tried yet in the South Okanagan. With our roots being in the valley and our many years of building we hope that this project will be something others will copy. We can’t wait to put the shovel in the ground.”
Quick Facts:
- The Richter property is the remaining lands that were purchased by the Town in 2009 to enable the development of the new fire hall.
- This offer follows after the Town completed two expression of interests for developers.
- All development on the Lands shall comply with the requirements of the Intensive Residential Development (IRD) zone in the Town of Osoyoos Zoning Bylaw No. 1085, 1998, including the IRD Area Permit Guidelines in the Official Community Plan.
- IRD Zone will result in 2 storey small lot development housing units.
