First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016 · As we near the holiday season, here is an...

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

As we near the holiday season, here is an end-of-year update from the First Place Program implementation team at the City of Edmonton.

2017 implementation schedule

2017 First Place implementation schedule is now available. Community design engagement is scheduled to occur in Bulyea Heights, Belle Rive, and Twin Brooks in 2017. Dates are still being finalized and will depend on availability of community residents and builder staff. The City will also be recruiting residents for the design engagement committees for Dunluce and Sifton Park in 2017, with the design engagement for these two sites slated to begin in 2018.

Twin Brooks First Place Program “Open House”

On December 3, 2016, the City hosted an open house for residents to learn more about the First Place townhomes planned in Twin Brooks and sign up to be considered for the design engagement committee.

A copy of the display boards from the open house, as well as a transcription of the raw comments received

both online and at the open house are now available for review.

The raw, transcribed comments are being summarized into a “What We Heard” document capturing the main themes. A frequently asked questions document is also being prepared to help address some of the common questions received at the open house and online. Both of these documents will be made available for review early in the new year.

The questions received and the ‘What We Heard’ summary will help inform the engage-ment process used to design the new homes, which is scheduled to begin in early 2017. For more information on the First Place town-homes planned in Twin Brooks, please visit ed-

monton.ca/twinbrooksfirstplace.

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

Bulyea Heights Design Engagement The introductory meeting for the Bulyea Heights design engagement process was held on December 8, 2016. The design engagement process will consist of approximately three to four sessions over a two to four month period and is expected to be completed by March 2017. For updates on the status of the design engagement process, including meeting minutes and design options under consideration, please visit the Rohit Communities Bulyea Heights First Place website. Construction

and new home sales will follow completion of the design engagement process.

Bulyea Heights First Place Program– Flip chart notes and meeting photos from First Design Engagement Meet

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

Haddow First Place Construction Update Construction and new home sales for the 38 Haddow First Place townhomes is now underway following the scheduled completion of topsoil management, underground servicing, and utilities. The show home is open from 3-8pm Monday to Thursday and from 12-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. For information on eligibility

requirements and new home pricing, please visit the Haddow First Place by Rohit communities website.

Haddow First Place Homes– Show Home Photos

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

Kirkness First Place- Construction Update Construction of the 73 Kirkness First Place townhomes is now underway after the scheduled completion of topsoil management, underground servicing, and utilities. New home sales are expected to start in early 2017. Users of the sports field on site have been advised of the construction underway and are being accommo-dated on other sports fields. Questions about sports fields bookings may be directed to sportsfieldbook-

ings@edmonton.ca or 780-442-4548.

Kirkness First Place Homes– site plan, rendering and sales event

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

Kirkness First Place Homes– Construction

Photos

First Place Program Update: Fall and Winter 2016

More information is available on the City’s website at edmonton.ca/firstplace and edmonton.ca/buildinghousingchoices

Role of Liaisons If you are receiving this email it is because you have volunteered to be a liaison for First Place program sites and have offered to help us share this information with your neighbours. If you have questions about

being a liaison or wish to be removed from our mailing lists, please e-mail firstplace@edmonton.ca

First Place program recap City Council approved the First Place program in November 2006, allowing for the construction of homes for first-time buyers on 20 vacant school sites. The program addresses a recognized need for more entry-level housing in Edmonton, and continues to meet the needs of young families today. The First Place program creates homes that are within reach of first-time buyers because the land cost is deferred for five years. Homes must be owner-occupied during that time period (i.e. no rentals). The town-home developments tend to attract recent post-secondary graduates and young professionals who grew up in or near to these new building sites.

More information More information on the program and eligibility is available on the City website under First Place Program.

Belle Rive First Place Site Update Since our last communication in the Q2 2015 Liaison Update, some drainage concerns have been identified on the City land adjacent to the Belle Rive First Place site. The City and the home builder are diligently working together to resolve these issues before the end of winter 2016, which would allow for design en-

gagement to begin in 2017.

The design engagement will include representatives from the City, Evansdale community league, home

builder, and a small group of interested Belle Rive residents.

The home builder is working on several innovative designs that will be brought forward for discussion as part of the design engagement process. The home builder is also working with the City to explore opportu-nities to retain existing trees on the building site. If some trees needs to be relocated or removed, it will

be done strictly following guidelines under City of Edmonton’s “Tree Policy”.