Devlin speaks to need for more housing

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This article was published 04/04/2022 (1343 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sheldon Birnie

STAFF REPORTER

EAST ST. PAUL

WEST ST. PAUL

NORTH KILDONAN

Carla Devlin is making the case for good development.

Devlin, a councillor for the RM of East St. Paul and president of Carrington Custom Homes, has been in the construction industry for over 20 years. This year, at the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show, Devlin will be speaking to the need for new housing in the Winnipeg metro area.

“The market is demanding it today,” Devlin said.

“We’re seeing lots of new construction, which I always say is a better option than renovating. Demand is going to continue, which will push the market for more housing.”

Carrington Custom Homes builds its projects from the ground up, Devlin said. Recent projects include a luxury apartment complex at 1915 Hoddinott Rd. in East St. Paul.

“A lot of people today are taking that approach, they want to lock the door and walk way, pay a monthly fee and not worry about the things that go along with home ownership,” Devlin said.

The company is also involved in building out the second phase of Riversprings Grove in West St. Paul, with a custom show home to be completed in the new development later this spring.

“We have six lots left,” she said. “We’re always open for hire for custom homes.”

To address the housing crunch, Devlin believes communities need to provide a mix of housing options, including high quality infill with secondary suite options.

“They need to have different opportunities for aging in place, but also opportunities that are affordable within our cities for young families and our growing seniors population,” she said.

“And it needs to be affordable. Infill projects allow young families to have a mortgage and a good quality of life, if they can rent those suites out.”

A first-time presenter at the Home + Garden Show, which runs April 7 to 10 at the RBC Convention Centre, Devlin hopes to both show what Carrington Custom Homes has to offer would-be home owners, while also acting as an ambassador for WeDo Canada, an organization that encourages women to become entrepreneurs.

“WeDo will be having a convention later this year, that I’ll be hosting,” she said.

For more information, visit carringtoncustomhomes.ca