Breaking ground for a new development

Fisher Peak Townhomes, which broke ground in summer 2011, will offer affordable entry-level homes with lots of pluses

by Dan Williams — September 14, 2011

Representatives from New Dawn Developments and Columbia Basin Trust break ground at the Fisher Peak Townhomes project on July 18, 2011: (L to R) Tim O’Doherty (CBT), Paul Fergus (NDD), Johnny Strilaeff (CBT), Chad Jensen (NDD) and Ron Miles (CBT). — Photo courtesy Columbia Basin Trust

Chad Jensen, president of New Dawn Developments, looks over the waist-high grass and a lone worker getting a gravel bed ready for concrete. Jensen envisions 25 affordable entry-level family units over eight phases, with the current phase scheduled to be complete this winter.

Fisher Peak Townhomes are within walking distance of most amenities—including parks and shopping. Each individual home will have 1,570 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, an attached garage and a lower-level walkout area.

“The townhouse gives people more of a lock-and-leave approach—where their snow removal and their lawn cutting are taken care of,” said Jensen. “If it’s a young couple that is very active, they don’t have to worry about (yard maintenance). They can just pack up on Friday afternoon, lock the door and leave to go camping or hiking or whatever.”

A bit of a departure from New Dawn’s usual single-family construction, Fisher Peak was an opportunity that presented itself and New Dawn took up the challenge to build the development—one of the first after many years of little activity in the townhome-condo market in Cranbrook.

This is the first time New Dawn has entered into a partnership with Columbia Basin Trust (CBT). Unlike financing with traditional lenders, this partnership means that the money stays within the Kootenay region and has a trickle-down effect for other CBT community initiatives. It’s a case-by-case relationship that speaks to a long-term approach with a conservative low-risk factor.

“CBT is proud to play a part in helping meet the needs of Basin families by increasing the availability of this type of housing,” said Johnny Strilaeff, CBT’s vice-president, investments. “Fisher Peak is a quality development in the community and we look forward to our new partnership with New Dawn Developments.”