SYLVAN LAKE — A new subdivision on Sylvan Lake’s southeast corner has undergone a fundamental change in its proposed demographic makeup.
Lighthouse Pointe was slated to be an adult community, with children only allowed as visitors or summer residents. This restriction has now been removed, said Wendy Hanlan, marketing director with Winalta Homes Inc., a joint-venture partner in the first phase of the development.
Winalta is providing 50 manufactured homes for that phase, with 44 already on site. Hanlan declined to identify the number of homes sold to date, but said interest is growing.
“Because we have opened the community up, the flexibility has created a strong interest from buyers who previously did not qualify,” she said.
“The market told us that Lighthouse Pointe is better suited to a wider range of ages and lifestyles.”
The homes, which Hanlan described as “cottage-style bungalows,” come in a number of styles and with either two or three bedrooms. Features include attached garages, vaulted ceilings and covered front porches.
Prices range from $199,000 to $269,000, including a landscaped lot, said Hanlan.
Phase 1 covers about 45 acres of the quarter section. Developers John Warshawski and Lawrence Lirondelle had originally planned for 350 factory-built homes and a 325-lot cottage/recreational vehicle park built around man-made lakes.
Warshawski said on Thursday that he and Lirondelle now want to remove most of the RV component and instead build homes around a single 30-acre man-made lake. The lake would be shaped like a horseshoe, with more than 100 homes around it.
“The RV park was something we were looking at eight, nine years ago,” he said, noting that the situation has changed with other development in the area, including a major shopping centre to the north.
“The best use for the land would be housing with parks and a man-made lake,” said Warshawski, adding that there would also be no age restrictions on those homes.
It could be a while before further phases at Lighthouse Pointe are undertaken, however.
Warshawski said he must first negotiate the creation of a new outline plan for the subdivision with the town. And with the current economic downturn there’s probably no point proceeding.
“The economy is going to eventually improve.”
Lighthouse Pointe is located about one km east of Hwy 20.
Winalta currently has four show homes on site, with these open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com