Plaxton Ridge Condominiums held a ribbon-cutting and key ceremony on Monday.
Minister of Social Services June Draude made the official hand-off of the key to new home owner Mandy Dykstra, a registered nurse employed at Union Hospital.
“It was Jen Patterson, my realtor who told me," Dykstra said about how she initially found out out about the property. “I was looking at houses and she told me 'you should come look at these condos, they're really good.'”
The homes at Plaxton Ridge, a 15-unit, three-story apartment-style condominium located at 221 Main Street South, is part of the HeadStart on a Home program. The Government of Saskatchewan provided $1.9 million in financial assistance through the program.
“We talked about HeadStart on a Home and I want to tell you we are so proud of it,” Draude told those in attendance. “Government can’t do it alone. What I’ve learned over the last couple of years with the various programs is working in relationship with municipalities and builders and developers and everybody who has a dream for the future.”
Owner of Plaxton Development and Schultz Electric, Brett Schultz is one such developer Draude was referring to. Schultz saw a need for affordable housing in Moose Jaw and decided to use the land at 221 Main St. South for the project.
“We’re 100 per cent done, got a couple nicknacks here to do, but otherwise it’s all inhabitable," Schultz said. “We’ve got four people moved in already and we have two more moving in in 15 days.”
The province has been facing a continual housing crunch due to a population growth provided by economic growth. Moose Jaw’s city site lists apartment rental vacancies at less than two per cent, with Regina fairing even worse at less than one per cent.
For more on this story pick up the next issue of the Times-Herald.
This seem to be a good program for people who want to excell in life not for the people who don't try to make themselves better by getting extra education or ob training and just want to sit and ask for a hand out not a hand up. bumbs!!!!!!!