Morden’s appetite for condos put to the test

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This article was published 12/03/2018 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Condos are typically associated with an urban lifestyle, but can they thrive in a rural setting?

That’s the leap being taken by Hive Development Group, which recently announced the construction of its Lexington condo development in Morden.

The three-story, 27-unit complex is being touted as a sign of growth in that city and in the Pembina Valley in general.

“It’s the next stage in Morden’s development. The growth has been so explosive in the last 10 years,” said Peter Cantelon, board member with the Morden Community Development Corp.

The Lexington isn’t the first condominium development in the city, where the population is quickly approaching 10,000. But past developments catered more to the 55-plus crowd, or were retrofitted apartment buildings. The Lexington condos are higher-end units for all ages.

Winnipeggers may be surprised how many condos there are in southern Manitoba. A relatively new condo development was built by the Imperia Group near the Boston Pizza on Highway 3.

“That Morden-Winkler area is a real hotbed of activity in general, with 73 condo sales last year. That’s very strong. That’s impressive,” said Peter Squire, vice-president of market intelligence with the Winnipeg Realtors Association. That doesn’t include Carman, which has had a strong condo market for some time with units built in the vicinity of its golf course.

“I think it’s starting to happen more in some of these growing communities. Some seniors are finding they don’t need to stay in larger homes,” Squire said. “I don’t think it’s much different than someone living in St. James and they want to stay in St. James.”

However, the Morden complex will test whether a younger set wants the equity of home living without all the responsibilities.

The condo activity reflects the city’s booming growth, said Ron Funk, vice-chairman with the Morden Chamber of Commerce.

“Trying to find a place to live in town is challenging,” Funk said, because the city continues to welcome immigrants through the provincial nominee program.

Funk runs Deasil Custom Sewing, which has 40 employees — all but two, including himself, from outside Canada. His employees come from India, Mexico, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, the Philippines and one person from Finland.

Accommodations in Morden will get tighter in summer when Enbridge replaces its aging Line 3, a seven-pipeline corridor that runs under the Morden golf course southeast to Gretna and into the United States. Those workers will fill up hotels and apartments.

The Lexington is the brainchild of wife and husband developers Heather and James Francis. They formed Hive Development Group, a multi-residential and commercial developer, and Francis Family Homes, their custom-home division. Previous projects have included a mixed-use building in Morden with commercial space on the main floor and 14 apartment units on top.

Why build a condo in Morden?

“Morden does not have a condo development of this kind and we think the market is ready for it,” Heather Francis said.

The couple is from Morden and sees a bright future.

“We believe in our city and we want to be a part of its development and growth,” Heather Francis said. “We also know that more members of the population are being drawn to condo living.”

Group residences create efficiencies in heating, cooling, maintenance and other expenses, she said. Some people prefer to build equity with “the luxury of leaving worry-free for extended periods of travel or work.”

Mark Wiebe, of Wiebe Realty in Morden, said it will be interesting to see how the Lexington condos are accepted.

The formal title is “Lexington on 9th,” as it’s on 9th Street South in Morden near the historical downtown.

“In small communities, condos can be a bone of contention. Rural people feel they are for older people. It’s not like Winnipeg, where a younger generation want them, so they can just lock the door and not think about it,” Wiebe said.

Construction is to begin this spring, with completion by spring or early summer of 2019.

Hive Development Group recently unveiled the project at Morden’s Home and Life Show.

The smallest units in the Lexington will be 726 square feet and sell for $159,500, GST included; medium-sized 1,049-sq.-ft. units go for $224,500; and 1,200-sq.-ft. units are $246,500.

The Lexington will have an elevator, exercise machine room, weight room and common room, concrete soundproofing between floors, insulated soundproofing in the walls and spacious, private balconies. There is one indoor parking spot per unit, with outdoor stalls also for rent, and indoor bicycle parking.

More information is available online atlexingtonon9th.com.

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bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca