Potential growth fees in Winnipeg could send spike of homebuyers to bedroom communities

LA SALLE, MB — It’s just minutes outside of Winnipeg, but La Salle and other bedroom communities are seeing more home buyers looking to leap away from the big city.

“The disparity in price is substantial,” said Tim Comack, Vice-President of Ventura Developments Inc. “It’s enough to make a real difference to someone’s bottom line.”

A difference that potential new home buyers are already noticing, especially as talk of new growth fees at Winnipeg city hall continues.

On Thursday a report recommended an additional charge of $18,302 on an 1,800 square foot home.

“This is just another mechanism where assessments will go up and taxes will go up,” said Comack. “It’s another reason for people to contemplate a short drive to La Salle or Stonewall.”

RELATED: New report recommends thousands of dollars in growth fees

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Prairie View Lakes is a new development in La Salle that could grow to upwards of 650 properties. Developers said they are already starting to see an increase in calls from Winnipeg home buyers as residents look to get a bigger bang for their buck and avoid a potential growth fee in the city.

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“We’re certainly seeing a strong demand,” said Comack. “You’re got substantially larger building lots, lower taxes, lower utilities, lower cost to build a home and it’s just minutes to the city.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're certainly seeing a strong demand," said Comack. "You're got substantially larger building lots, lower taxes, lower utilities, lower cost to build a home and it's just minutes to the city."

Many of the bedroom communities surrounding Winnipeg are seeing huge influx and are scaling their amenities to make sure those towns have a bigger city feel. In La Salle, the new development will include a centralized park system with walking trails, playgrounds, meeting spaces and two large lakes.

READ MORE: Mayor mulling growth fee to help pay for new developments

It’s a drive many Winnipeg workers already make. Blake Vasko and his family moved outside the city eight years ago and wouldn’t contemplate going back.

“My wife and I wanted to come out to a community where we could have a larger property, pay less taxes and have a nice safe atmosphere for raising our four children,” said Vasko.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "My wife and I wanted to come out to a community where we could have a larger property, pay less taxes and have a nice safe atmosphere for raising our four children," said Vasko.

He commutes into the city for work but said the extra few minutes in the car are worth it.

“It’s a short drive. It really feels like you’re that much closer to the city but it feels that much more peaceful,” said Vasko. “And you’re getting more value for your land.”