Construction is underway on the largest housing development to be built in Springwater Township.
Tribute Communities and Yorkwood Homes plan to build 660 homes in the small rural community of Centre Vespra, which is located just outside of Barrie.
"It’s a sign of the times. This township has grown organically, when you do dense development like this you make better use of the land," says Mayor Bill French.
The developer says 300 skilled trades jobs will be created to build the development that 2,500 people are expected to call home.
"It should bring local shopping, dining, local services such as doctors’ offices, so I think it's a positive thing.”
Large scale developments are a contentious issue in Springwater. French is against the Midhurst Secondary Plan, which could see the area swell to nearly 30,000 people. However, the mayor says this development in Vespra is different.
“Very simple, 2,000 versus 30,000. There is some agriculture land here, but the other area is all prime agriculture.”
The developers say more than 200 homes have already been sold. Construction will be done in phases and is expected to be complete by 2020.
