A sod turning ceremony Wednesday in St. Malo will see 32 55-plus condos constructed.

President of Mi-Ro Enterprises Ltd. Leo Roch feels there's currently nothing available in the area for those who would like to downsize but don't need a high level of additional care.  Roch adds this reality is how the project started, when he and his wife Jeannette along with Vice-President Art Milette and his wife Eva were looking at condo-style living and thought, since there was nothing in the area that would work for them, they would instead build their own.

Milette says when they had an open house about a year and a half ago there were 28 couples who came and showed interest, so they are confident this project will be a success and a benefit to the community.

"There are always people looking for dwellings and housing.  If some of the seniors are local, like us, our houses will become available for younger families.  There's bigger yards and everything else where kids can run and play.  So it's opening up opportunities for younger families to stay here and raise their families."

Roch adds it also represents an increase to the property tax base which is estimated at adding $75,000 per year to the municipality.

For financing Milette notes, for the most part, they went to the bank but both Milette and Roch will be putting up funds to the project.

"We're hoping that the project is all pre-sold before the construction starts," adds Milette.  "So we're in the process of selling that.  That will give us some cash availability to start the project off."

The project is estimated to be just shy of $7 million.  Milette notes within the 32 units there will be 4-plex, 3-plex and duplex buildings available.

Roch says construction on Phase 1 will start in a couple of weeks and they hope to have it completed by fall.  As for Phase 2 and 3, Roch adds they have a five year window to complete the entire project.