MELVILLE, Sask. — The City of Melville is making reduced prices on several city-owned residential lots permanent after a surge of interest from buyers helped spur new development plans across the community.
At its Sept. 21 meeting, city council approved maintaining promotional pricing introduced late last year for lots on Toronto Street and Winnipeg Street, a move administration says will keep momentum going as demand for housing grows.
The decision sets prices at $13,500 plus GST for lots north of Third Avenue East on Toronto Street, $8,000 plus GST for lots south of Third Avenue East and $5,000 plus GST for lots on Winnipeg Street.
Mayor Joe Kirwan said the lower prices have already produced results.
"We sold several lots, 13 to a local developer," Kirwan said. "I understand he's just got his blueprints approved and is going to start construction on one of the houses."
Kirwan said the city manager also informed council that two additional Toronto Street lots had recently been sold.
The city first reduced the prices in December 2025 as a temporary measure aimed at stimulating residential development and reducing the inventory of vacant city-owned land. The discounted rates remained in effect until June 30 of this year.
According to a council report, administration continued receiving inquiries from prospective buyers after the promotion ended, indicating the lower prices better matched market expectations and improved the competitiveness of city-owned properties.
Kirwan said council recognized that holding out for higher prices was doing little to encourage construction.
"I've always believed that real property is worth what the market will bear," he said. "Just because we thought we ought to recoup the costs of development didn't mean the lots were going to sell."
He said the city benefits not only from lot sales but also from the long-term tax revenue generated once homes are built.
The move is also expected to reduce the costs associated with maintaining vacant properties.
"If we don't sell lots, we've got to maintain them," Kirwan said. "We're cutting grass, we're doing whatever. This way we actually get new development."
The 300 block of Toronto Street was reduced from $25,000 to $13,500 per lot under the original promotion, while the 100 block fell from $20,000 to $8,000. Both areas are zoned for single-detached homes. Winnipeg Street lots, zoned for mobile homes, were reduced from $13,500 to $5,000.
Kirwan said the recent sales could translate into four or five new homes in the near future. He added that another developer is exploring the possibility of bringing two or three modular homes into another area of the city.
The need for additional housing may become even more important as Melville prepares for potential industrial expansion.
Kirwan pointed to development associated with the former Kamsack Industries facility, where a company is planning manufacturing work connected to the mining and energy sectors.
"They're talking possibly as many as 200 jobs in Melville alone," he said. "Initially they were looking for 80 welders."
While some of those positions could be filled locally, Kirwan said the project could also attract new residents to the city.
"We're going to need housing. We do now, but with that new development it's going to be important," he said.
Kirwan described the recent activity as an encouraging sign for a community looking to reverse population declines and attract new investment.
"We're a small city, but that's starting to turn around," he said. "A little bit of development is a start. It's like anything. If you can get that first domino, things start to happen."
As new homes begin to move from the planning stage to construction, Kirwan said council is optimistic about what the future may hold.
"As a mayor and as council, I think we're cautiously excited."
