What used to be a field west of Battleford continues to slowly but surely transform itself into the Telegraph Heights subdivision of Battleford West.
Six houses are now under construction in the subdivision, and much landscaping work has been done as well.
A number of trees and flowers now line the entrance and the roads in the subdivision alongside some of the homes now under construction.
The progress in the area pleases Battleford West developer Dean Kupchanko, who was on site in Telegraph Heights last Thursday watering the 65 elm trees planted there.
"All the sidewalks are in. We're just waiting for a few more houses to be constructed and then the roads will be paved," said Kupchanko. "We will continue to plant more trees later this fall and again in the spring."
Kupchanko says 14 of 36 lots in the Telegraph Heights subdivision have now been sold. He said six houses are under construction and four four-unit multi-family ones have been completed as well.
Kupchanko is expecting more lot sales this fall and into the spring.
"The lots are very large lots," he said. Some are 19,000 square feet. Some will be comparatively wide, and can accommodate double-or-triple garages alongside houses.
There is a consistency that will be apparent with the houses being built.
"All the houses meet the design guidelines." Kupchanko said.
That means there will be verandas on all of them, the main characteristic that will give the houses a bit of consistency, he said, but each of the houses are still unique.
Right now three of the houses are for sale, including the developer's show home. It is a two-storey 1,821 square foot home currently under construction, that is now fully finished upstairs and in the lower level. It is being built by McKell Homes for Battleford West and it is one of their show homes constructed according to the design guidelines. The insulation went up last week and Kupchanko said the siding was due to go on this week.
There is other home construction happening on Telegraph Road. On the other side of the street, construction goes on for another 1,500 square foot house that is owned by a family intending to move in by Christmas, said Kupchanko.
A four-unit condo is also completed and is located not far from a planned green space area.
The 65 elm trees that line Telegraph Road were all planted last fall, said Kupchanko, and a number of large pine and spruce trees were also put in. Some additional landscaping is to be done in mid-October alongside the perimeter fencing.
The plan is to do more planting along the green space areas, and once more houses are completed, there will be more trees installed there as well.
All the houses will hook up to the Town of Battleford water and sewer system. There is a two-year tax incentive in place for those looking to buy properties in Battleford West, along with an additional three-month construction start deadline.
Kupchanko said plans are still on the books for the twinning of Highway 4 next spring and for a lighted intersection to go in at 29th Street and also at 22nd street. Once the intersection goes in at 29th Street, there will be commercial development in that area, he said, with some food and local neighbourhood retail developments filling that space in Battleford West over the next couple of years.
That will be within walking distance from Telegraph Heights and there will be walking trails available in the green space to get there.
All the green space around the perimeter has been levelled, top-dressed and seeded, and the grass has had two cuttings this year already.
"It's been a great year for our landscaping because we've had so much moisture," said Kupchanko.
He adds that two years ago there was a big problem with dust being kicked up and blown around when the grading was being done. Now, with the additional landscaping that has gone on, Kupchanko said there have been no problems with blowing dust and believes the problem is behind them.
Kupchanko is pleased with the progress seen at Battleford West ever since development began in 2006.
"It's gone from a field with a crop in it to six houses under construction and a four unit condo," said Kupchanko, "all within a three-and-a-half year period."
