[Timmins] Shortage sparks wave of multi-plex homes – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – July 25, 2013)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Timmins is seeing an influx in multi-unit residential developments. City building officials say this appears to be in response to the community’s housing shortage and the cries for more residential units.

“We’ve got the four four-plexes on Sixth Avenue, you’ve got the old GV Hotel, you’ve got the eight-plex in South Porcupine and a few others that are proposed,” said Esa Saarela, Timmins’ chief building official.

The old GV Hotel, which is kitty-corner to the four-plexes on Sixth, is being converted into a 34-unit apartment. The eight-plex being developed in South Porcupine is on Bruce Avenue. “It just really started about two or three years ago when we had a couple of four-plexes constructed,” said Saarela.

“It’s been very encouraging to see.” Cindy Welsh, the city’s planning manager, said there are several more of these types of multi-residential developments on the horizon. Among those is the 30-unit condominium-style townhouse development on MacLean Drive which city council recently approved for rezoning. She said there are others in which “serious enquiries” have been made but are still at an early planning stage.

Despite the marked trend in multi-unit residential developments, building construction in Timmins got off to a slow start this year due to the extended winter this region experienced.

Saarela said this is reflected in the number of building permits the city has issued in the first half of this year.

“We had an awesome spring last year and because of that, we had a very quick start (in 2012),” said Saarela. “This year, we really didn’t get going on a lot of residential projects until late May or early June. So we are probably a month to a month-and-a-half behind from last year. That might have contributed to some of the lower numbers.”

Overall, the number of building permits issued in all building sectors – including residential, commercial, industrial and institutional – are down from last year.

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