A Vancouver-based company is looking to build 133 new houses in Sooke.
The new houses, proposed by Aragon Properties, are expected to include 80 townhomes and 53 single-family homes. The townhomes will be about 1,300 square feet in size, and the single-family homes will be around 1,700 square feet.
Luke Ramsay, development coordinator for Aragon Properties, said the company is targeting small families and first-time buyers by making the houses affordable and modestly sized.
If approved, the development will be built at Church Road and Wadams Way, on a 500,000 square foot lot. Ramsay said the previous owner already had the land zoned to fit 133 homes, and they will not be increasing the density.
“We want to build smart and create a housing community that suits Sooke,” Ramsay said.
All of the homes will also include garages. The townhomes will have garages as part of the house, but for the single-family homes, Ramsay hopes to have the garages built behind the houses.
“We also try and offer different housing looks and types so that they can appeal to a wide variety of people from all walks of life,” Ramsay said. “This also allows us to have different price points on houses, so some can be even more affordable than others.”
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said she doesn’t know much about the project, but is looking forward to seeing it come to council.
“From what I understand it is going to be aimed at families, and that type of housing is something we need in Sooke,” Tait said. “One thing I would like to see included in the development is daycare, especially if it is family-focused. We have a major shortage here.”
Tait said the location of the development would be a great location for family homes because of its close proximity to amenities such as the new library that is going to be built, downtown, along with John Phillips Park. Another affordable housing project, the Knox Centre, is also being built in the same area.
Aragon Properties held an open house earlier this summer and hope to hold another one in the near future. Following the next open house, Ramsay hopes to take the feedback, refine the plan, and bring the development proposal before Sooke council in early 2019.
Ramsay explained that because he is unsure of how long the process will take, so timeline estimates are very loose.
“We have never worked with Sooke before but we are really excited, and hopefully, we can start building something by 2020,” said Ramsay.