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Stalled project revived

A Medicine Hat development company has breathed new life into a stalled residential subdivision in Blackfalds.
Classic Communities 110708jer
Cam Ens stands inside one of homes that is part of the new 241-house subdivision on the north end of Blackfalds.

A Medicine Hat development company has breathed new life into a stalled residential subdivision in Blackfalds.

CCL Classic Communities Ltd. plans to build 241 single-detached homes at the north end of town. An area structure plan for the site was approved by Blackfalds town council four years ago, with Worthington Properties of Edmonton planning to develop 450 residential lots there under the name Aspen Lakes.

Much of the servicing and roadwork was completed, but no homes were built — until CCL Classic Communities recently constructed three show homes.

“We partnered up with Romspen (Mortgage Investment Fund), the bank who took it over, to build our Signature houses and also to sell the remaining lots and put any type of house there that people want,” said Cam Ens, CCL Classic Communities’ vice-president of corporate development.

Ens, who was in Blackfalds for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, said the pace of construction will depend on demand.

“We’ve already started to sell some homes.”

Seventy-one of the houses CCL Classic Communities plans to build in Aspen Lakes will be its Signature homes, ranging in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. Each will qualify for the company’s mortgage assistance plan, through which CCL Classic Communities covers $7,500 of the down payment and also pays a portion of the monthly mortgage charges for the first five years — which combine to provide the home-buyer with between $18,000 and $25,000 in financial assistance.

Ens said the mortgage assistance plan was developed by CCL Classic Communities about six years ago to help people qualify for mortgage financing and get into their own home.

“Our company is based on providing attainable home ownership.”

Founded in Medicine Hat in 2002, CCL Classic Communities has since expanded into Lethbridge, Canmore, High River, Saskatoon and Regina.

“We’ve given back over $35 million under the (mortgage assistance) program,” said Ens.

“What we do is very unique, and no one in Alberta is doing it.”

Nine floor plans are available in CCL Classic Communities’ Signature series, said Ens, with more to be added. Prices will range from about $275,000 to $330,000.

“The lowest price per-month payment that we can get someone in for is about $975.”

The remaining 170 homes in Aspen Lakes will also be developed by CCL Classic Communities, but these will not qualify for financial support under the mortgage assistance plan. They will be built to buyers’ specifications.

“In this development there are some very beautiful walk-out lots, and those are priced quite a bit higher than some of the lots in the Signature houses,” said Ens.

CL Classic Communities, which is owned by Murray Prokosch and his wife Margaret, has focused on townhouse walk-up style homes in other communities.

“We do hope to bring multi-family to the area,” said Ens, adding that the company is looking at development opportunities in Central Alberta.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com