Updated: Tue Aug. 12 2008 17:41:08

ctvedmonton.ca

The city's latest attempt to encourage first-time buyers to make the big leap into home ownership is not rolling out the moving vans like expected.

City officials announced Tuesday they received only 15 applications for their First Place program, an initiative offering up to 85 new town homes at discounted prices for first-time buyers.

Following the first call for applications ending August 8, the city ended up approving only 11 applications.

Terry Loat, manager of the city's housing branch, said they are still looking at the program in a positive way.

"We aren't surprised in anyway by the response today," he said. "It's certainly a healthy reflection of the market place."

Following the city's unveiling of the program in July, some Edmonton residents argued the initiative would add extra competition in an already too-hot-to-handle market.

Greenview resident Leann Proctor said she opposed the project from day one.

"I feel like saying I told you so," she said. "We practically begged them to wait, for the city to hold off ... but to only have 11 people apply, ha."

Yet some of the program's successful applicants said they cannot understand the low turnout or the controversy -- especially because new owners will avoid paying a mortgage on the land for five years.

Cam Jones, one of 11 people chosen, said he was ecstatic when he found out his application was accepted.

"It such a great project because they are brand new homes in a great neighbourhood," he said.

With a report from CTV Edmonton's Rob McAnally