Langford’s Westhills, one of the largest subdivisions on the South Island, set a significant milestone on Monday — announcing the construction of its 1,000th home.
The 517-acre master-planned community in the hills between the south end of Langford Lake and Mount Wells Regional Park is now home to about 3,300 residents. To put that in perspective, about one in 15 residents of Langford now live within Westhills’ boundaries, and many more work in businesses, attend three new schools or play in the parks and trail systems in the new community. It is a key player in Capital Regional District’s growth strategy as the population booms.
Still owned by the Stewart family of Langford, the initial planning for Westhills dates back to 2006. The first homes were completed in 2009.
And there’s lots more building to come, says Westhills Land Corp. general manager Ryan McKenzie, who cut a ribbon to celebrate the milestone with Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson at a scenic peak along Constellation Avenue.
“We’re about half way along,” said McKenzie, pointing to undeveloped lands to the west that will see a variety of housing types built to the future.
McKenzie said Westhills has plans in place to provide thousands of additional homes, along with retail spaces, offices, parks and recreational sites.
The current breakdown of 1,000 homes includes 683 single-family houses, 203 townhouses and 114 condominiums.
The latest condo project, Solaris — with commanding views of Langford Lake and the entire region — is expected to welcome its first residents in May, adding another 130 new housing units.
McKenzie said Westhills is well positioned with zoning to continue to address the province’s “critical need for additional housing,” noting there will be new townhouses and condos coming online soon.
The economic and social impacts created by Westhills within Langford are significant, said Goodmanson.
The city’s two largest, undisturbed parks are in Westhills — Parkdale Hill and a large part of the Langford Gravity Zone and nature trails — as well as the swimming docks at Lakepoint Park, the Jordie Lunn Bike Park and Westhills Park.
The development also includes the YMCA-YWCA, Victoria Conservatory of Music, a public library, a provincial government shared workplace and elementary, middle and high schools.
“What you’ve built here is more than just houses,” said Goodmanson. “You’ve built homes. Each new home represents a new beginning for a Langford family, a place to create long-lasting memories, a place to make new friends and build connections with neighbours.
“It is evident looking around that these memories are already being created by the residents who are making the neighbourhoods so unique and special.”
Goodmanson also referred to several businesses within the Westhills development that “support important employment opportunities for residents and further diversify Langford’s thriving economy.”
One of the most recent, Plexxis, a construction software company, relocated to Langford from Brampton, Ont., with many of its employees and has built a six-storey headquarters on Westhills Drive.
Sam Auerbach, who bought a new home in 2017, said his family loves the community. “What I appreciate about it is it’s full of families and kids,” he said. “We have a three-year-old and it’s a wonderful, safe place to raise a family.”
McKenzie said the ownership of Westhills remains local and focused on providing housing. More than 100 people are employed full time by Westhills Land Corp. and its group of companies. An additional 150 employees of third-party contractors work at Westhills every day, and the company has donated about $1 million to community and charitable organizations to date.
“The development of a large, long-term community like Westhills consists of so many moving parts,” said McKenzie. “On top of the list is residents.”
McKenzie mentioned several homeowners by their first names, including who were in the crowd of about 150 on Monday. “They create a sense of community. The streets are packed with kids and the parents are out socializing. These are the kinds of things that improve the neighbourhoods in which we live.”
McKenzie said most of the people moving to Westhills are from within the capital region, including many first-time buyers from Langford. Others are moving from the Lower Mainland and other parts of Canada.
