In the 1950s, when the village of Iroquois had to be relocated about 1.5 kilometres to make way for the St. Lawrence Seaway expansion, a sign was put up at the entrance to the town that said: We have to go but watch us grow.
“Fast-forward 50 years and we’ve grown some,” says Jason Broad, who is mayor of the Municipality of South Dundas, which includes Iroquois. “But this is the project that’s going to make us grow significantly.”
By “this,” he’s referring to the just-launched development of Merkley Oaks, which will see Ottawa builder Valecraft Homes make the short trek south to Highway 401 to bring more than 300 homes and rental apartments to the area.
In a village of about 1,400, adding 300-plus homes is certainly significant — and will grow the town by half again. Yet the demand seems to be there. Smaller builders in South Dundas have contributed an average of 15 to 20 new homes a year in the area, which helps, says Broad, but it’s not enough. And the area’s largest employer, long-time video equipment manufacturer Ross Video (now known simply as Ross), has plans to expand.
“As Ross plans to bring on new business, have more manufacturing here in Iroquois, we’re going to need the employees to support that and the homes to go along with that,” Broad says.
All of that added to the appeal for Valecraft owner Frank Nieuwkoop, who is a frequent visitor to the area and first looked at land there several years ago. Developing didn’t seem feasible back then, but more recently he’s noticed “there’s a lot of growth now coming along the St. Lawrence.”
Merkley Oaks — named after the property’s original owner, Steve Merkley, and in recognition of the land’s many oak trees — will offer a mix of two-storey singles, semi-detached bungalows (some with the option for a secondary dwelling unit), two-storey townhomes and rental apartment units on just over 30 acres along Highway 2 right in the middle of Iroquois.
“We’re covering all the bases,” says Nieuwkoop, who expects the project to attract buyers not only from the area, but also Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall and even Montreal, thanks to quick highway access to each, high-speed internet that will facilitate working from home, and the affordable pricing. Homes are starting from $469,900 for towns, $574,900 for semi-detached bungalows and $609,900 for singles. Rental apartment pricing will be set closer to the occupancy date.
Homes will include hardwood on the main floor, quartz counters and air conditioning among the standard features. Walkout basements are available in some of the homes and Valecraft is offering a launch incentive of a $10,000 design centre bonus.
Merkley Oaks will include two green spaces that are technically dry ponds that can handle significant rainfall, as well as a walking trail park. In another nod to the area, streets in the development have been named after five firefighters who were killed in 1981 when their emergency vehicle was struck by a train while crossing tracks as they responded to a fire.
Iroquois has a small-town village vibe while also providing all the basics, such as a grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants, a Tim Hortons, and both elementary and high schools within walking distance of Merkley Oaks.
More unusually, there’s an 18-hole golf course in the village, a lit walking trail through the waterfront, a beach on the St. Lawrence, marina, boat launch, airport, library, lock viewing area for the shipping channel and more. “It’s all right here in our backyard,” says Broad.
Adds Nieuwkoop: “There’s an attraction there for sure. If you want that local, home-town feel, Iroquois is going to offer that to people.”
A launch event on Jan. 25 attracted more than 350 and included a BeaverTails truck from Ottawa, area politicians and Valecraft’s ambassador, Ottawa Senators alumnus Chris Neil. “It was fantastic,” says Nieuwkoop.
Valecraft, notes Broad, “has definitely spurred a lot of interest in what’s happening in South Dundas…. People are excited about Valecraft coming.”
Initial occupancy is expected to be in late fall, which is also when the model home should be ready for viewing.
