LaSalle to add dozens of housing units to town core
A new housing development in LaSalle poised to be launched this fall will add several dozen new residential units in the town’s core.
Town council on Tuesday night approved rezoning for a new condominium and townhouse development largely geared to attract seniors and first-time home buyers. It will be located off Sprucewood Avenue near the intersection of Malden Road.
The Valente Development Corporation is behind the project, which proposes to eventually construct four, three-storey apartment-style condominiums with 130 units. It also includes construction of nine separate townhouse units.
It is to be located on about five acres of vacant land essentially adjacent to an existing commercial plaza that includes Joe Schmoe’s restaurant and other offices.
Construction of a new entry road and sewers off of Sprucewood leading into the development will take place this fall, said Peter Valente, the company’s president.
“The driving force is the need for this kind of housing in LaSalle — especially in an area close to shopping, walking trails and town hall is nearby,” he said.
“We expect most people interested will be first-time buyers or empty nesters.”
Valente expects sales will begin sometime this fall with the pace of construction of the condo buildings to be driven by the number of buyers.
Each unit will feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms with sale prices staring at $250,000, he said.
“We expect with the resale market so strong, many people will look to sell their house and see a great opportunity to move into one of these units,” Valente said.
LaSalle Mayor Ken Antaya expects many seniors looking to downsize will predominately be attracted to the new condo units.
“We continue to focus on the area and this will mean a lot to further development to the centre of the municipality,” he said.
“You want the type of residential development which leads to pedestrian movement and enhances commercial viability. This accomplishes that.”
Several shopping plazas are located within walking distance of the planned development, including pharmacies, restaurants, fitness clubs and medical services.
“This adds another component to the town centre area,” Antaya said.
A traffic study was conducted, satisfying town administrators that roads in the area will be able to handle traffic created by the housing project despite nearby intersections being somewhat congested, said Larry Silani, the town’s director of development and strategic initiatives.
The developer will be required to create sidewalks, connections to walking trails and sufficient offstreet parking, he said.
“The market is driving what gets built,” Silani said.
“This will cater to a segment of our population who does not want to live in a single-family dwelling that has to be maintained with a yard and everything else.
“It also provides a choice to those who want to remain in the community and be able to live close to shopping and services they need.”