Modern love in Bayview Village

Transcription

Product: TabMagazine PubDate: 06-16-2014
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
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SUMMER 2014
plus
Modern love
in Bayview
Village
Cottage country
condominiums
Luxury selling
strategies
Penthouse with
prime views
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ON THE AVENUE
MORE YORKVILLE.
MORE LUXURY.
TWO BEDROOM RESIDENCES STARTING AT $845,000
LUXURY TOWNHOMES STARTING AT $2,695,000
New York City has the Big Apple. Now Yorkville has the
Perfect Pear. PEARS on the Avenue appeals to the most
discerning buyers with exquisite amenities that
many other condominium communities
in the area surprisingly don’t offer.
Prices and specifications are subject to change. See Sales Representative for details.
E.&O.E. June 2014.
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menkes.com
Entrancing southern views. Contemporary chic
ambience. Modern gym, landscaped terrace and indoor
swimming pool. A private oasis yoga studio and elegant party
room. A 24-hour concierge at your beck and call. Refined elegance
pervades every detail of this exceptional residence. Discover perfection ...
at Pears and Avenue Road in Yorkville.
MenkesLife
Visit our Presentation Gallery at 156 Avenue Road I 416.323.0100
Monday to Friday by appointment only I Saturday and Sunday 12 – 5pm
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4
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
AN INFORMATION FEATURE
a special information feature
DIRECTOR, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND
CUSTOM CONTENT GROUP
Teena Poirier
MANAGER, SPECIAL REPORTS AND
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Andrea D’Andrade
BRAND PARTNERSHIP MANAGER,
SPECIAL REPORTS
Keith Ryder
ADVERTISING SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Sonja Leigh
GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Gottfried Wirth
ASSOCIATE SALES MANAGER
Mark Iker
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Ki Kim
Cindy McKinnon
Jim Poutsoungas
SANDY CAETANO/GEORGE PIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY
he heat is on, and we’re not just talking about
the weather. Real estate sales remain strong
in the GTA, especially in the lowrise sector
and for condominiums in the city’s most desirable
neighbourhoods.
With summer’s approach, cottage living is a dream
many aspire to. We investigate some of the trends
in waterfront real estate and also explore the appeal
of cottage country condominiums, which offer the
lifestyle without the hassles.
Take a look at some of the GTA’s most innovative
properties, including a stunning penthouse across
from the Royal Ontario Museum and at one of
Canada’s first collections of detached homes with
modern design.
Learn a bit about selling strategies too – if you
should try to attract multiple offers on your house,
and the best ways to market luxury properties.
T
contents
6 MuseumHouse penthouse is rare jewel
8 Greening the condo landscape
10 Cottage real estate trends
12 Modern love in Bayview Village
14 Yorkville’s exclusive appeal
15 Latest market news
16 Luxury selling strategies
19 When to encourage multiple offers
20 Evolution of an estate development
22 Cottage country condo living
Cover photo supplied by: James Hodgins, Hodgins Realty Group Inc.
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COMING SOON
OUTDOOR TERRACE, KITCHEN AND BARBECUE
THIS IS YORKVILLE
AT ITS VERY BEST.
R E G I S TE R N OW | CU M B E R L A N DTOWE R .CO M/G M
A N E W S I G NATU R E R E S I D EN C E AT
C U M B ER L AN D AN D AVEN U E ROAD I N YO R K VI LLE
A MASTERPIECE IN YORKVILLE.
FO L LOW U S :
@CAMROST
C A M R O S T F E LCO R P
PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. E.&O.E. BROKERS PROTECTED. ALL IMAGES ARE ARTIST CONCEPT.
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6
Stunning penthouse is a rare find
in heart of the Museum District
MuseumHouse suite offers unobstructed views, grand staircase, four stone terraces
T
he penthouse in the MuseumHouse
condominium, across the street
from the Daniel Libeskind Crystal
of the Royal Ontario Museum, is a rare
artifact itself.
“It really is one-of-a-kind, with stunning views to the north and south,” says
June Burrowes sales representative with
Baker Real Estate Ltd. “It’s going to be
spectacular.”
The $12.8 million penthouse occupies
the top two floors of MuseumHouse with
just over 7,000 square feet of indoor/
outdoor living space. The interior space
includes 5,700 square feet, with three
bedrooms and four baths, while four
stone terraces – two on each level –
provide 1,310 square feet of exquisite
outdoor living.
“In the heart of the city, outdoor living
space is so important,” says Ms. Burrowes. “It’s rare to have that much space
and with such a view.”
The penthouse is one of only a handful
of suites still available in the boutique
condominium building and can be
finished and customized as its buyer
sees fit, although some finishes have
been selected and “no expense has been
spared,” says Ms. Burrowes. However,
the buyer has free rein to put their own
design stamp on the space.
The MuseumHouse building is timeless
in design, clad in limestone, metal and
glass. A hotel-style porte cochere and
stylish entrance from Bloor St. welcome
residents and visitors. There are just 27
suites, with half and full floor layouts, in
the 19-storey building.
The elegant building was designed by
architect Sol Wassermuhl, president of
IBI Group/Page+Steele, who could have
his pick of condos at the many buildings
his firm designs. However, he chose to
buy a sub-penthouse at MuseumHouse
because of its prime urban location and
the unobstructed views it will offer. His
suite is one floor below the penthouse.
Penthouse residents will be whisked
to their suite by a direct access elevator that opens to an entrance foyer that
looks upon the grand two-storey staircase. Another private interior elevator
connects the main level to the upper
The two-storey penthouse atop
MuseumHouse has more than 7,000 square
feet of indoor and outdoor living and will boast
stunning views of the protected green space
surrounding it and the glittering Toronto
skyline.
level of the penthouse. Ceiling heights
soar to 12 feet on the main level and 10
feet on the upper level, to allow for flat
ceilings and recessed lighting.
The main floor includes large, elegant
spaces for entertaining, such as the living
room with fireplace that opens to a huge
terrace. This and the other terraces have
frameless glass railings to provide unobstructed views over historic, protected
properties to the Toronto skyline.
Also on the first level is a music room,
library/den/office with fireplace, media/
family room and a deluxe gourmet
kitchen with double pantry opening to
the dining room and a second terrace. A
service elevator and corridor and cater-
ing corridor allow for discreet deliveries
or arrivals of service or catering staff.
Upstairs, the master bedroom is a
sumptuous retreat with two walk-in
closets, lavish master ensuite with standalone tub, spa-like shower, double sinks
and double-sided fireplace. The ensuite
and master bedroom open to another
terrace with electronic awning.
Also on this level are laundry room,
storage area, and two other bedrooms
with their own ensuite baths, that open
on to a shared terrace.
The Forest Hill Group will provide
executive concierge services tailored to
the lifestyle of MuseumHouse residents,
whether they need the best seats in
the house for theatre, ballet or opera;
acceptance of gift, grocery or flower
deliveries; pet services include walking,
grooming and veterinary appointments;
and private after-hours visits to the top
fashion boutiques.
The location is one of the most
coveted in the city: MuseumHouse is
located in the Museum District, in the
midst of the Royal Ontario Museum, the
Royal Conservatory of Music, the Bata
Shoe Museum, the Gardiner Museum and
Philosopher’s Walk, a landscaped garden
that links Bloor St. to Queens Park and
and the University of Toronto.
The location is ideal to enjoy the galleries and restaurants of Yorkville and the
upscale fashion boutiques of Bloor St.
“The location is on the quiet side of
Bloor. It’s more exclusive, out of the way
and not in the heavily congested part,”
says Ms. Burrowes. “It’s a little bit away
from the busy-ness of Bloor St. but right
in the heart of everything, in the heart of
Yorkville so everything you want or need
is right there.”
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8
Greening the downtown
core’s condo landscape
Effective landscape architecture softens bleak
streets, adds to residents’ enjoyment
G
reen space isn’t usually the first
thing you think of when shopping
for a condo, especially with so
much buzz around celebrity architects
and interior designers. But landscape is
an important component to the way a
building works, not only for its residents,
but the fabric of the neighbourhood too.
It used to be that large properties were
known as much for their gardens as
for their architecture, says Sibylle von
Knobloch, owner, NAK Design Group Landscape Architects. That started to
change as land costs increased and builders aimed to squeeze as much footprint
out of their sites. That’s actually increased
the importance of effective landscape
architecture and Ms. von Knobloch has
in fact noticed “a surge of well-designed
small courtyards and rooftop terraces” as
Toronto fills in, especially in the downtown core.
One of the chief roles of landscape
architecture is to distinguish the line
between the public realm, and private
space. That intersection of public and
private is where it gets interesting, and
also why it’s important for the landscape
architect to be involved in a project at an
early stage, Ms. von Knobloch says. NAK,
for example, was brought in early for
Pears on the Avenue, during the rezoning
process, because of the need to create
streetscape frontages along Avenue Rd.
and Pears Ave.
“Building setbacks are dictated by Toronto city planning, which has a vision for
certain neighbourhoods,” Ms. von Knobloch explains. “One of the city’s mandates
is to achieve wider sidewalks, and because
accommodating them requires a building
setback, this is something that’s generally
negotiated between the planning department and the architect.”
At Pears, the landscaping consists of
streetscapes on both Avenue Rd. and
Pears Ave., as well as on the second floor
amenity terrace. A very narrow sidewalk
runs north from the project along its
Avenue Rd. side. Giving Pears a small setback on Avenue Rd. allowed the architect
Page + Steele and NAK to work in a much
wider sidewalk with a row of trees that
creates a canopy along in front of the
future retail base. This not only creates
an entrance statement for the project,
especially the five exclusive townhomes
fronting Avenue Rd., but also makes that
stretch of the street much more inviting.
Avenue Rd. where Pears is located
becomes quite steep, and the avenue of
trees set into the wide sidewalk will give it
a more intimate, residential feel, Ms. von
Knobloch says.
Buildings being set back to accommodate larger sidewalks, like in the Pears
project, work very well to enliven the
neighbourhood, but Ms. Von Knobloch
doesn’t believe huge setbacks are necessary because appropriate streetscapes are
also created through surrounding land
use. “On streets that are bleak,” she says,
“landscape elements can go a long way to
animate them, including comfortable sidewalk widths, areas for bikes to be parked,
trees, shade, weather protection. All that
helps the street feel more comfortable, so
then you don’t need that extra space at
the base of the building.”
Ms. von Knobloch’s firm has worked
throughout the GTA, as well as in Europe,
Asia and the Caribbean. Each climate
presents different opportunities and
challenges for landscape design. The
biggest one in Toronto has to do with our
winters and the “abundant use of salt. Not
many plants do well in salt, so the street
level material needs to be more minimal
– mostly trees with a little planting at the
base of the trunk.”
Where space is limited, less variety and
more consistency in palette and materials
work best. Consistency and minimal variety give the boldest statement, and with
Toronto’s changing seasons evergreens
provide visual interest all year long.
On the Pears’ amenity terrace, however, Ms. von Knobloch has expanded the
material palette to include honey locust
trees, yew hedges and ornamental grasses. “What I like about honey locust as an
urban tree is their light foliage, because
it allows for dappled sunlight, rather than
heavy shade tree which is dark under-
For Pears on
the Avenue’s
amenity terrace,
Sibylle von
Knobloch of
NAK used honey
locust trees,
yew hedges and
ornamental
grasses to
create an oasis
of calm. A row
of trees along
the sidewalk
fronting the
building makes
the street more
inviting.
neath. These
allow more light
to get though the
base planting. The
yew hedges provide partition, and
the ornamental
grasses provide
movement.”
She explains
that landscaping
for high rises not
only needs to
help create usable
amenity spaces
but should also
appear intriguing when looking down on
them from other parts of the building.
Ms. von Knobloch likes to use a lot of
coniferous understory – that is shrubs –
to grow under trees so the planting looks
lush, and to create secluded spots away
using components that will lessen the
wind so common on high rise buildings.
Ms. von Knobloch’s approach to
amenity terraces is to “create an oasis of
calm, so that people living in an urban
context can go the ‘backyard’ and chill on
the terrace. If they want animation and
buzz, they can head to the street and walk
along.”
Because interior and exterior amenity
spaces are usually attached – and need to
complement each other – Ms. von Knobloch tends to create outside spaces that
are multifunctional, with partitions disguised as hedges, interesting structures
to suggest a separation, and planting
areas for people to sit in. “The trick of the
design is to break up the space in a fluid
manner, with a cohesive look that entices
you to use it.”
The landscape design at Pears is so
subtle, it’s not immediately obvious – and
that’s exactly what Ms. von Knobloch
was aiming for. The textural variation of
the locust tree, the green needles of the
yew, and the long thin blades of grass, all
in slightly different shades of green, very
simple, very bold, very effective.
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the LAK E
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10
Cottage buyers desire
short commutes and
year-round access
intended property is by municipal year-round road that is
plowed and maintained by the
local municipality, by a private
year-round road that local
owners pay for, or whether the
road has seasonal access (from
late spring to fall) and may be
impassable in winter.
Cottage owners also want
be near a host of outdoor
activities – the usual waterfront ones including boating,
fishing and swimming – as well
as tennis and golf, and skiing
in winter.
Usually both members of
a cottage-owning couple are
holding down fulltime jobs, which means
they have less time to enjoy and play at
the cottage. So more cottage owners are
hiring outside help to look after chores
such as maintaining the grounds, getting
the dock out and looking after the water
system.
Renovating and updating old cottages is
hot trend, but check the rules
A
fter a bitter winter and chilly
spring this year, it’s little wonder
many of us dream of a weekend
waterfront getaway to make the most of
Ontario’s short but spectacular summers.
Cottage country real estate never goes
out of fashion and waterfront property
can be a sound investment. The idea of
a simple rustic cottage has evolved to a
more sophisticated abode that has many
of the comforts of home, and can be
enjoyed year-round. And many buyers
are no longer wanting to put up with
lengthy drives.
Here are some of the current cottage
trends observed by Armin and Annemarie Grigaitis, who own Re/Max Baywatch
in Honey Harbour. That area, in the
south end of the Muskokas, with its more
remote and rugged setting, offers slightly
more affordable options than some of the
more popular Muskoka Lakes.
Ms. Grigaitis says cottage buyers don’t
want to face a lengthy haul to get to the
cottage every weekend so are looking
for properties that are less than a two
hour commute from the GTA. They want
to be able to drive to the door and to
use their cottage year round. Buyers
should ascertain whether access to their
above: This three-bedroom executive Honey
Harbour cottage, listed for $1,499,000, is on
a peninsula with east and west waterfront
exposure. Finishes include granite counter tops
and wide plank maple floors.
below: A well maintained older cottage on Bone
Island in Honey Harbour, with two-plus-one
bedrooms, has two wood-burning fireplaces,
and is listed for $775,000. It has 825 feet of
private shoreline with over 10 acres of land.
TRENDS
Just like urban and suburban real estate,
cottage country real estate is subject to
changing trends.
One of the big trends is for people to
buy an older cottage to renovate and
update, says Ms. Grigaitis. However, this
may not be as easy as it seems. It can
be an expensive proposition – trades
may have to travel from a distance and
getting building materials to a remote or
island site can be difficult – and there are
municipal bylaws that must be obeyed,
just like in the city.
If you plan to tear down an old cottage, you may not be allowed to build a
new one as close to the water. It may be
better to improve the existing structure
if it’s important to stay close to the shore.
Check with local building and planning
officials to see what the rules are.
Other trends Ms. Grigaitis notes are
cottage interiors that were dark being
lightened for a brighter, cleaner feel.
West Coast modern architecture is
also finding its way to Ontario cottage
country, with new or renovated waterfront homes including features such as
flat roofs and large windows.
WHAT’S HOT
Ms. Grigaitis says some of the hottest
must-haves for waterfront buyers she
deals with include:
• Private building lots under $300,000
• Ability to drive to the door of a
winterized lakefront home with a price
of less than $500,000
• Deep water for swimming – a must
• West-facing view
• Great location for watersports
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12
Modern love in Bayview Village
Crafthouse rides new wave of urban design with 20 contemporary detached homes
The 20 homes of
Orchard Ridge Homes’
Crafthouse feature
modern design by
Symbolics Architects
that is functional and
durable, with interiors
that are calming,
warm and inviting.
A
n intimate collection of 20 upscale
homes in the Bayview-Finch area is
setting a precedent in Toronto and
beyond the city’s boundaries.
“As far as we understand, this is the
first subdivision of contemporary architecture (detached homes) in Canada,” says
broker Paul Johnston of Right at Home
Realty Inc. about Crafthouse, a development by Orchard Ridge Homes. “There
are a number of single modern homes
across the city on infill lots in neighbourhoods set among traditional homes, but
this is an entire community of 20 modern
homes and is a paradigm shift.”
Andrew Sorbara of Orchard Ridge,
the third generation of a well-known
home-building family, is spearheading the
project and Peter Vishnovsky of Symbolics Architects + Design has designed the
homes.
Both are young men with a contemporary aesthetic who represent the new
wave of contemporary building, says Mr.
Johnston. Modern design has been done
in a dozen or so townhouse developments
in the city and “those have been remarkably successful in changing the landscape
downtown” but it hadn’t been attempted
in a detached home setting previously.
Mr. Johnston says Orchard Ridge “has
shown great courage and great wisdom”
in making a commitment to embrace
modern design and it was important to
them to deliver homes that “are well
conceived and well executed.”
Mr. Johnston, who specializes in selling
unique and modern urban homes, sat
in on Crafthouse planning sessions to
offer feedback to “help avoid making the
mistakes I’ve seen in some of the modern
homes I’ve sold.”
“Because the latest wave of contemporary homes is quite new, I’ve seen builders
explore it by throwing everything but the
kitchen sink at it, and they haven’t demonstrated an ability to edit and they end
up with architectural designs and floor
plans that are downright busy,” says Mr.
Johnston. “They don’t demonstrate the
restraint great architecture embodies.”
He says Crafthouse features “the kind
of quiet and subtle design movements
people appreciate,” as well as function
and durability.
Symbolics is mostly a private residential and commercial architecture firm and
has not traditionally designed for tract
home builders and “they really aspire to
architecture that has timelessness,” says
Mr. Johnston.
He says Crafthouse’s location in
Bayview Village is surrounded by 1950s
and 1960s’ split levels and bungalows that
were modern when they were built – “this
is a modernist neighbourhood” - so the
Orchard Ridge homes fit comfortably and
are in context.
“The easy path for this developer
would have been to put up the most expected and least challenging homes, but
they took a year and half to explore design opportunities and craft these houses
to people whose aspirations are for high
quality architecture and building,” says
Mr. Johnston.
Symbolics is overseeing both the
architecture and interior design, harkening back to the days when the architect
handled both inside and outdoor realms,
says Mr. Johnston. “The space planning
is superb and a lot of the architectural
components translate into the interior.”
With 20 homes with seven different
designs and nine exterior options, the
development will “feel like a small collection of custom built, contemporary homes
from a singular architectural voice,” says
Mr. Johnston. “From its very inception,
these have been modern homes for mod-
ern buyers.”
The homes range in size from 3,000
to 5,500 square feet on 45 and 50-foot
lots and are priced from $1.795 million to
$2.895 million. All have two car garages
and four or five bedrooms.
Mr. Johnston says people find the
homes very calming and soothing, due to
their openness, ceiling heights, natural
light and the simplicity of architecture.
The design and finishes are not cold and
stark, but inviting and warm.
The homes have been made as low
maintenance as possible, with brick, stone
and sealed natural wood on the exterior,
with very little grass or painted surfaces.
The homes feature unique side courtyards that “are slightly more formal and
private and introduce even more light into
the homes,” says Mr. Johnston.
The neighbourhood has parks and
ravines, walking trails and bike routes, the
restaurants and shops of Bayview Village,
private and public schools and access to
the Sheppard subway line. Buyer interest has come from both young families
“looking for a home more reflective of
the times in which live” and downsizers
looking to simplify life with a new, lowmaintenance home.
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14
From a rich history to high-end
shops, Yorkville’s got it all
The former bohemian village has evolved into the city’s most
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neighbourhood… and you!
JUNE BURROWES,
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
416.923.4621 • 416.875.8726
W
hen it’s summertime in the city,
there are few places more exciting to explore the urban experience than Yorkville.
The iconic neighbourhood makes for
great people watching as fashionistas
stroll by, carrying bags from high-end
boutiques. Enjoy a beverage or meal at an
outdoor patio or café. Observe the laneways and historic houses that are vestiges
of Yorkville’s Victorian village past.
Relax in Yorkville Park, where a parking
lot was turned into a green space that
celebrates the village’s history and the diversity of Canada’s landscape. One of the
big attractions is the 600-ton ‘The Rock’
that is a piece of glacial shield.
Who could have imagined that
the 1960s bohemian neighbourhood,
frequented by counter culture types
and artists such as Neil Young, Gordon
Lightfoot, Margaret Atwood and Joni
Mitchell, would transform into one of the
city’s most exclusive and most desirable
neighbourhoods?
Its history dates much earlier than its
fame as a hippie haven. Yorkville, founded
in 1830 by Joseph Bloor was named after
the Town of York. It was incorporated as
a Village in 1853 and was annexed by the
City of Toronto in 1883. Even though it’s
now an integral part of Toronto, it maintains its unique identity and that’s one
reason for its allure.
Upscale retailers like Holt Renfrew,
Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci, Chanel
and Tiffany’s and many more have stores
on Bloor St. Holt’s and Harry Rosen set
up shop in the 1970s, while the arrival
of the Bloor-Danforth subway furthered
Yorkville’s evolution into an exclusive
shopping district.
In the 1980s Yorkville’s transformation
into one of the city’s premier luxury residential neighbourhoods began with the
Toronto condo boom. While the boundaries of this iconic area’s brand have expanded in recent years, the ‘real’ Yorkville
sits between Cumberland St. and Yorkville
Ave., and Avenue Rd. and Bay St.
Many of the city’s highest priced and
most stunning condominiums are found
here. Camrost Felcorp is among the developers with a prime site in the heart of
‘real’ Yorkville, with its Yorkville Plaza II:
Cumberland Tower. Following the success
of the first phase, The New Residences
of Yorkville Plaza (already 92 percent
sold), Cumberland Tower will bring more
residential opportunities to this coveted
neighbourhood.
Camrost Felcorp’s president and CEO,
David Feldman says Yorkville Plaza II will
incorporate the latest design principles
with thoughtfully laid out interiors, beautiful landscaping, top-notch amenities
and state-of-the-art security systems, in
keeping with the type of features buyers
expect in this exclusive neighbourhood.
Standing at 40 storeys, the WZMHdesigned limestone, granite and glass
tower will have 272 suites in the Tower
Residences, ranging from a one bedroom
(385 sq. ft.), to a two bedroom-plus-den
(855 sq. ft.).
With Tower Residences starting at
$350,000 and going up to $750,000, buyers have a wide array of price options.
The Cumberland condo residence is
just steps from the glamorous shops of
Bloor Street, Whole Foods Market, the
ROM, University of Toronto, and an array
of gourmet restaurants and eateries.
There is more to Yorkville’s appeal than
its shops and amenities: it is one of the
most pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods
in the city.
Yorkville has a Walk Score of 100 on
WalkScore.com, making it a true “walker’s
paradise,” where the majority of daily
errands don’t require a car. It also has
a Transit Score of 100, thanks to the
Yonge-University-Spadina and the BloorDanforth subway lines.
Camrost-Felcorp
is among the
developers who
have transformed
Yorkville into
the premier
luxury condo
neighbourhood
in Toronto. It
recently launched
Yorkville Plaza II:
Cumberland Tower
there.
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15
Report: Continued
strength ahead for GTA
real estate market
Low interest rates, shortage of listings
among factors driving brisk sales
H
eading into summer, the Greater
Toronto Area’s powerhouse real
estate market shows no signs of losing steam, according to the Re/Max Spring
Market Trends Report 2014.
Despite an unusually harsh winter, sales
numbers remained positive with continued
low interest rates, foreign investors and a
low inventory of listings pushing sales up
7.8 per cent year-over-year as of March
2014.
The average GTA home sales price
hit $553,193 in February with a typical
detached home selling for $718,400 and a
condo selling for $347,200. Overall average
BAYWATCH LTD.
REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE
Independently Owned and Operated
residential prices crept up to $557,684
in March. In certain high-end neighbourhoods, it was not unusual for a 40-foot
lot with a tear-down house to command
$800,000-plus.
Across the city, there was a scarcity of
listings and indeed inventory levels are
at an all-time low with just 14,000 active
listings in February – in 1999, there were
17,000.
Although detached freehold homes
are the hottest commodity in the GTA,
condo sales still account for half of sales
in the City of Toronto. The city is still the
Western Hemisphere’s leader in highrise
Georgian Bay
HONEY HARBOUR
11⁄2 HOURS NORTH OF TORONTO
construction and prices in the downtown
core have put ownership out of reach for
many.
There has been no significant multifamily residential rental construction in the
city for 30 years and investors are continuing to purchase individual condo suites, filling a gap in the market. The rental market
is tight and the vacancy rate of less than 2
per cent is resulting in multiple offers on
rental suites in popular locations.
The downtown living trend continues
to grow as people become fed up with
lengthy commutes and availability of land
for new suburban development is scarce.
Other trends include buyers with equity
in their homes seizing the opportunity to
upsize, while many retirees are selling their
current homes, cashing out and moving
into smaller homes or condos. Many first
time buyers, facing higher costs required
to enter the market, are getting financial
assistance from their parents.
The Re/Max report says economic
opportunities and low interest rates will
continue to drive demand for homes and
condos and indicate continued growth in
the market, with sellers realizing significant
returns and buyers competing for desirable
properties.
ARMIN GRIGAITIS, Broker of Record
(705) 756-7629
BONE IS., GEORGIAN BAY The way a
cottage should be. 825 Ft. rock, pines, beach &
view! 10 Acres. 2 Bdrm main, 2 x 1 bdrm Bunkie
(beach house), 2 fieldstone fireplaces. 3 Generation
cottage first time on market. $775,000
DEER IS., GEORGIAN BAY Clean, cosy, calm!
235 Ft. deep water swimming/dockage. 3 Bedroom,
float dock. NO grounds to maintain - O-natural!
$399,900
LITTLE LAKE., TRENT SEVERN Nothing out of
MOORE PT., GEORIGAN BAY Spacious,
place-Immaculate. Drive to the door of this yr round
3,200 s.f. lakefront home, 3 bdrms, 2 bath. Walkout
lower level games rm. Cosy screened porch to relax
and meditate – South exp. $823,999
grand lakefront home in esteemed Moore Point.
330 Ft. level lot – expansive West view. 4 Bdrms,
3 baths, sauna/spa rm. Open plan – soaring
fieldstone fireplace. $1,399,000
EXECUTIVE ADDRESS Room for lge family
gatherings. Private point with 360° views on yr round
rd. 4 Bdrm Lindal cedar home, 1 bdrm cabin, lrg
garage, floating boat house & dock system. Deep
water swimming. $1,950,000
WHOLE ISLAND 4.58 Acre Cognashene Island.
Stunning views of the BEST Georgian Bay has to
offer. 3 Bdrm Homestead, 2 bdrm + 1 bdrm Guest
accom. Dryland boat house + workshop. Floating
protected dockage. $2,750,000
RARE MUSKOKA MILLS ESTATE 25 Acres,
MCARTHUR DR., PENETANG GEORGIAN
BAY Yr round treasure tucked on 4.6 Ac, 600 ft. of
2,283 ft. smooth granite. One of a kind 4 season
Post & Beam lakefront retreat, complimented by 2
bdrm Scandinavian Dovetail log cabin. Breathless
Views – sunsets. $2,900,000
private point with unobstructed views. Spectacular 6
bdrms, 5 bath home w/dynamic layout & the finest
finishes. Boat house & guest quarters. $1,890,000
Zone: GTA
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16
Buyer optimism continues
to drive GTA luxury market
Marketing luxury homes is a whole business in itself and requires more than just
the right location
T
he luxury market continues to
show strength in Toronto and GTA,
with buyers continuing to seek out
prestigious condos and homes in the right
neighbourhoods.
Here’s what two real estate experts
have to say about the luxury market,
and their strategies for selling high-end
homes.
Michael McLachlan of Re/Max Ultimate
specializes in high-end and luxury properties in the downtown and Toronto’s north
end and says the Toronto luxury market
“has increased by 147 per cent over the
last five years in the amount of homes
selling.”
“The reasons for that include low interest rates and the sustainable equity gains.
There’s an interest in having a tangible
product and people want to invest in
luxury real estate,” he adds.
“We’re definitely seeing the luxury
market resurge in 2014,” agrees James
Hodgins of the Hodgins Realty Group in
Mississauga. “There’s an optimism that
wasn’t there last year. People are feeling
good about everything – about life, their
business and it’s definitely translated into
more activity.”
Mr. McLachlan is seeing “an interesting mix of clients” including from across
Canada, with some coming from Calgary
and Vancouver who work in downtown
Toronto and want to live in the city while
they are there. “You can’t personalize a
hotel room or leave anything behind. You
want something you can come home to
while you are working or visiting.”
About half the luxury buyers in the
city come from the Toronto area, and
the other half from other places, Mr.
McLachlan finds. “A lot of people within
Toronto are buying anything from $2 to $8
million. For properties above $10 million,
a lot of the buyers are coming from other
parts of the world. Various international
reports are rating Toronto as one of the
most liveable and competitive cities in
world. Investors find comfort in this and
think there is some predictability in their
investments here.”
Some neighbourhoods sell themselves
This home at
1416 Shadowa Rd.
in Lorne Park in
Mississauga recently
sold for $2,300,000.
It’s a David Small
design with more
than 2,000 square
feet in living space.
and Yorkville is
definitely the hot
address for luxury
condo buyers,
says Mr. McLachlan. “Anything
south of Yorkville
is a tough sell.
When people
think luxury, they
think Yorkville.”
He says small,
intimate boutique
buildings are the
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: JAMES HODGINS, HODGINS REALTY GROUP INC.
hottest commodity. “When it comes to boutique versus
life,” says Mr. Hodgins.
highrise, boutique buildings are more
Some buyers are also heading west to
exclusive and much more private. There’s
avoid Toronto’s land transfer tax “which
a seven-storey building at 36 Hazelton
is huge when you’re talking about a propAve. that has just 134 suites and the
erty priced at millions of dollars,” says Mr.
penthouse sold for $7 million or $2,400 a
Hodgins.
square foot.”
Desirable neighbourhoods include
In north Toronto, neighbourhoods such
Mineola West, popular with those who
as Post Road, the Bridle Path, Rosedale
work on Bay St., says Mr. Hodgins. It’s an
and Hogg’s Hollow are very popular,
older South Mississauga area with many
especially as lots are large (some more
homes that pre-date WWII and many
than an acre in size) and allow for truly
million-dollar-plus homes. Top-rated
palatial homes.
Kenollie Public School is a big draw and
Mr. Hodgins says the luxury market
buyers can expect to pay a premium in
is flourishing in communities such as
that district.
Mississauga and Oakville and offer an
“A bungalow just sold there for $2.5
alternative to Toronto, yet are within easy
million,” says Mr. Hodgins. “The buyers
commuting distance.
looked from the Beach to Oakville but
“You can get more home on a bigger
landed in Mineola. There weren’t tied to
lot and proximity to preferred features
a certain city, but were more looking for a
not available downtown for the same
certain type of area.”
price point,” says Mr. Hodgins. “You can
Lorne Park and the Mississauga Rd.
be on the lake, on the riverfront or have a
corridor and Rattray Marsh are also
generous lot –around half an acre – those
luxury areas, and southeast Oakville with
are some of the benefits.
its beautiful downtown core is perennially
“Professionals are coming because of
popular. “Everyone just loves it there and
the price and space and the quality of
every little town is trying to emulate it,”
says Mr. Hodgins. And from Etobicoke to
Oakville’s ‘Golden Mile’ to Stoney Creek,
waterfront homes are always a prestige
buy.
“Mississauga is a multicultural city –
it’s a very attractive destination to people
from around the world,” says Mr. Hodgins.
“ A huge component of our business
is empty nesters who are all looking to
downsize or ‘right size’ and not compromise their quality of life,” says Mr.
Hodgins. “They are downsizing from
5,000 square foot homes to 1,500 to
3,000-square-foot condos. The old
thought was that you sell a luxury home
and put money in your pocket, but some
people are paying as much or more to
right size because of competition for the
product of because of the cost.”
One condo building in Oakville by
Rosehaven, on the riverfront with walking
distance to downtown, is one such hot
address. “It has fantastic suites that rival
anything in the GTA,” says Mr. Hodgins.
International buyers on the other hand,
Continued on Page 18
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The Most Successful
Luxury Brand is RE/MAX
Fine Homes&Luxury Properties
Luxury Units Sold $1,500,000+
1013
Royal LePage
841
303
Harvey Kalles
227
Chestnut Park
Forest Hill
154
The sales representatives at RE/MAX
are involved in more luxury sales in the GTA, than anyone.*
The RE/MAX Brand brings the world to your door.
Visit TheRemaxCollection.ca to view properties over $1,500,000
*Sold Date From Jan 01, 2013 To Dec 31, 2013. Residential Transactions For Area Delimited By Entire Toronto and Oakville MLS - Price Higher Than $1,500,000
Zone: GTA
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Selling luxury
Continued from Page 16
left and above:
This custom home
at 32 Edgehill Road
in Toronto listed for
$3,695,000 is on one
of the city’s most
prestigious streets
adjacent to parks,
ravine and trails.
below: This stone
and wood home,
custom built by its
builder owner, at
1519 Douglas Drive
in Mineola West,
Mississauga, sold
for $2,875,000.
It’s within walking
distance of the
top-rated Kenollie
Public School.
may be more attracted to the Absolute
Towers in Mississauga that includes the
famous ‘Marilyn Monroe’ tower.
Another segment of the empty nester
market isn’t looking to downsize at all –
they are active and healthy, in their 50s
and 60s, and heading to rural settings
such as Collingwood, Wasaga Beach or to
rural properties within the Greenbelt in
towns like Campbellville or Caledon, says
Mr. Hodgins.
STRATEGIES FOR SELLING LUXURY
“The luxury market and how to market
it is a business unto itself,” says Mr.
Hodgins. “It doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s not just about having connections, but marketing knowledge and experience and having your team in place.”
That means a real estate agent should
have moving companies, home stagers,
landscapers, window repair experts and
arborists in his or her contact list.
“We use property-specific websites
and domains we’ve created,” Mr. Hodgins
adds. “We use a high quality photographer
and videographer so it’s not those goldfish
bowl images. We have 360 degree, flowthrough videos to create the experience
of walking through. We had a couple
looking to buy, but the wife was not in the
country. The husband did a quick scout,
liked it and the wife checked it out online
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY:
JAMES HODGINS, HODGINS
REALTY GROUP INC.
and deal was done.
Mr. McLachlan says while condos
and detached homes are quite different
products, the same marketing strategies
apply to both.
“You have to market locally and on a
global scale. You need to keep mind that
not everyone speaks English. I will put
together a property-specific website and
it needs to be inclusive of many things – a
video tour, photos and a floor plan as
many international buyers can’t come to
see and go through properties,” says Mr.
McLachlan. “We put all the details in so
they are able to go through on their own
time. It’s like a 24 hour open house.”
He has also hired translators to accompany him to take non-English speaking
buyers through homes and acts like a full
service concierge for out-of-town clients,
offering black car pickup at the airport,
helping to arrange restaurant and hotel
reservations and spa treatments.
“For homeowners who are selling, my
goal is to put as little weight on them as
possible. When I go to a list a property, I
pay close attention to what to showcase
in the home. My Rolodex needs to be
full of the best stagers, the best general
contractors, the best landscapers. When it
comes to luxury sales, you want to make
it as easy as possible for sellers.”
He says he advises sellers to show the
spaces in their homes as large as possible,
which usually means removing a lot of
furniture. “You have to showcase the
space so people can see what they can do.
No matter how gorgeous a property is, a
new buyer will want to personalize it.”
The same goes for condos, and he reminds owners that staging should extend
to the terrace or balcony. “You want to
bring in a gardener and make it a useable
space.”
If a seller has a suite in a building
where there are several others for sale
–“for instance, at the Four Season, there
are always five units priced at $5 million
at any one time” – staging is a necessity,
along with doing something to make the
unit a little bit different than the other
suites, whether it’s changing a wall or a
bathroom.
Staging doesn’t come cheaply, but it’s
an expense worth making, he says.
“We listed a 6,000-square-foot penthouse and the first month’s staging cost
$20,000, including the actual stager, the
rented art and furniture, delivery and
installation, and $12,000 a month after
that,” says Mr. McLachlan. In some cases,
if properties are going to take longer to
sell, he may recommend that a home
seller buy rather than rent furniture to
stage their home. “We did that with a
luxury unit at One St. Thomas and the
buyer liked the furniture so much, he
purchased it along with the suite.”
M. Hodgins says sellers tend to fall into
two categories: those “who believe” it’s
about the whole package, and “those who
don’t.”
“If the market is strong enough – and
it’s all based on market strength – and
if you’re in downtown Toronto and have
20 bidders, perhaps you don’t need to do
those things. But if we’re in a balanced
market or a seller’s market, you need to
put forth a good product.”
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SELLING STRATEGY:
Should you encourage a bidding war?
For this plan to work, you have to be in an area of high demand, low supply
I
f you’re planning to sell your home, you
might imagine that multiple bidders will
vie to buy, offering a price beyond what
you dreamed of.
But trying to encourage a bidding war
on your property may not be the best
strategy.
Here’s insight from Andre Kutyan, sales
representative with Harvey Kalles Real
Estate, Robert Greenberg team, who has
represented buyers and sellers in bidding
wars.
It depends on the commodity, whether
Mr. Kutyan recommends that strategy:
“The property has to be in an area where
there is high demand and low supply. And
the price point has to be significantly below
market value.”
He says most sellers can’t list their
property within 1 or 2 per cent of market
value and expect to attract multiple offers.
“You’ve got to make sure the asking price is
a minimum 10 to 15 per cent below market
value to create that perception that it is a
good deal.
“I don’t recommend this for every
listing. You have to be in the right location
and for some neighbourhoods, I never
recommend it,” says Mr. Kutyan. “In high
demand areas, you get the best outcomes.”
The biggest mistake people make is to
look at active listings and base their home’s
value on those, he says. “You should look at
sales transactions in recent months. If your
neighbour’s home is overpriced and you’re
overpriced, you’re not going to sell. There
are no deals and steals. Homes will only
bring what people are willing to pay.”
I don’t recommend this for
every listing. You have to be in
the right location
ANDRE KUTYAN
HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE
Mr. Kutyan says typically, the homes
that go into multiple offers are priced in
the $900,000 to $1.3 million range and are
in top school districts. “That’s what’s on fire
today, although you also see bidding wars
on infill sites for potential development.”
He says rarely will you see bidding wars
on properties of $3 to $4 million because
there are fewer buyers in that price range.
He says he may suggest sellers list for just
under their assessed home value, perhaps
2 to 3 per cent – for instance, list at $1.95
million instead of $2 million to attract more
interest. “Every $100,000 increment could
mean the difference between a buyer seeing your home or not seeing it.”
Recently, he knew a home on Rosewell
Ave. would bring $1.1 million, but suggested the seller ask $949,000, as with
recent CMHC mortgage rule changes,
fewer buyers qualify for mortgages over $1
million, thus fewer buyers would consider
it if it was priced above that. It attracted
multiple offers, starting at $980,000 and
sold for $1.151 million.
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20
Estate home community evolves
to keep up with buyer expectations
Homeowners want sophistication, comfort and feel of a custom-built home
W
ith the final release of homes in
their Estates of Wyndance community near Uxbridge, the folks
at Empire Communities knew they had to
up the ante.
Since Wyndance opened half a dozen
years ago, the GTA luxury home market
has evolved and become increasingly
sophisticated. Empire’s executive vice
president Paul Golini Jr. says that’s why
the remaining 32 homes in the 125home development will have an elevated
standard of features and finishes, while
preserving the elements that appealed to
initial buyers.
The Estates of Wyndance is a private,
gated community in a rural setting just
outside of the heritage town of Uxbridge,
with upscale two, three and four-bedroom homes set on expansive 85-foot
lots – a rarity these days. The homes are
surrounded by landscaped grounds that
include a park, gazebo, fountains, waterfalls, ponds, walking trails and tennis and
basketball courts.
The homes are adjacent to the
Wyndance golf course, an 18-hole Club
Link course designed by Greg Norman.
Home purchasers receive a Platinum golf
membership and membership renewal
options include full golf course privileges,
or a social membership.
While many buyers don’t golf, says Mr.
Golini, they like the golf course setting
and that they can walk from their homes
to enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks at the
clubhouse. “Even if you don’t golf, the
access to the country club lifestyle does
have cachet.”
Residents also appreciate the proximity to Uxbridge, a charming town with
many heritage buildings, numerous trails,
medical facilities, shopping, restaurants
and cafes. It also has GO bus service
to the Stouffville station. Mr. Golini describes the area as “ the Kleinburg of the
East with nature, heritage, history and
beautiful farms.”
From Wyndance, Highway 407 is less
than 10 minutes to the south, providing
easy access to Toronto and the GTA.
“Wyndance has many really neat attributes that set it aside,” says Mr. Golini.
“Since we opened six years ago, people’s
SANDY CAETANO/GEORGE PIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY
vision of an estate home has changed and
it’s a different calibre and we’re aligning
our offering from a design perspective to
include the attributes the market wants.”
What does today’s estate home buyer
want?
“They want their home to feel and
look like a custom home,” says Mr. Golini.
“That’s why we’ve gone to 10-foot ceilings on the main floor and 9-foot ceilings
in the basement and all the things that
someone graduating to a custom home
would want. The new homes are coming
with a landscaping package, not just a
tree in front, and we’ve got Paris kitchens
with Sub Zero and Wolf appliances.”
Empire recruited interior designer
Andrew Pike of HGTV fame to design the
new Wyndance model home.
“The home is spectacular,” says Mr.
Golini. “It could be in Forest Hill or
Rosedale and wouldn’t miss the mark.
It’s for buyers looking for that quality of
design, but who want to live on an 85 by
200-foot lot.”
Mr. Pike says the two-storey model
home (with almost 6,000 square feet of
living space) is “more upscale, more ad-
venturous to showcase the remaining lots
at Wyndance. It’s the new vision.”
He says his goal was to create a home
that was very, very elegant yet inviting
and casual. “I didn’t want to create spaces that felt untouchable and museumlike. For me, it’s not about pops of colour
or feature walls. It’s all about the blend of
texture and pattern.” The home’s colour
palette is neutral, with beige, white, ivory
and grey, a hue “which is incredibly hot
right now.”
The home has formal living and dining rooms as you walk in the front door
and “those rooms are visually the most
refined, a little more polished,” explains
Mr. Pike. Those rooms have elements of
polished metal and mirror and furniture
detailing such as nailheads and ring pulls
on chairs and diamond-tufted sofas.
“As you move through the butler’s
pantry to the gourmet kitchen, the colour
palette travels with you, but it’s slightly
more relaxed.” The great room reflects
this casual vibe with wrought iron, stonefaced fireplace and textured upholstery.
“People are realizing their upgrades
are good value when spent in the kitchen
Designer Andrew Pike of HGTV fame
designed the new model home at the Estates
of Wyndance to be elegant and sophisticated,
yet inviting. He used a neutral palette of ivory,
beige, white and grey, employing texture and
pattern to add interest.
and bathroom, and those rooms are real
showcases,” says Mr. Pike. “And the
ceiling heights are grand, so that’s a real
wow factor.”
Homes in the final Wyndance release
range from a 1,900-square-foot bungalow to two-storey designs from 2,200
square feet to more than 4,000 square
feet. Prices start in the $600,000 range.
Exteriors are brick, stone and stucco,
with some board and batten.
“We are getting everyone from families
to empty nesters. It’s a great combination,” says Mr. Golini. “Wyndance is
for people interested in having a nice
swath of land. And there’s a real sense
of community. There are block parties
on Canada Day and there’s a group that
goes on vacation together every year. It
provides a sense of community without
being crowded.”
Zone: GTA
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Condos offer cottage living experience
without the hassles
Two different projects in Huntsville provide lakeside living along with
activities and amenities close at hand
C
ottage living has been a beloved
tradition for generations of Ontarians and this love affair with peaceful lakes, woodsy settings and summer
sunsets hasn’t lost its appeal.
But sometimes the reality of the cottage may isn’t as romantic: Lakefront
property prices can put cottage ownership out of reach for many families, property taxes can be hefty and maintenance
chores can be burdensome.
One option that provides many of the
pleasures of cottage living without most
of the headaches is a cottage country
condo. Two developments in Huntsville
in the Muskokas have come to market
with two quite different condo products,
depending on your preference.
One is Lakeside Lodge at the venerable Deerhurst Resort, one of Skyline
Developments’ properties that offers
condo living, along with the activities and
amenities of a popular resort, and the option to gain extra income by placing units
in the resort rental pool. Across the road
is TreeTops, a smaller, more intimate
development that has appeal to part-time
and year-round end users.
“Purchasers are interested in less
maintenance (than traditional cottages)
and we’re next door to a fairly large
population in the GTA area,” says John
Giffen of Skyline Developments. “We’re
seeing people who want simplicity in
their life and are looking for destinations
within a two hour drive. It has always
been a summer tradition to jump in the
car and drive to Muskoka.”
Lesley Gregory, partner in Club
Leisure, TreeTops’ developer, says the
fact that the Town of Huntsville is just
five minutes away from both developments is a big plus as it has a full roster of
services and amenities, including grocery
stores, medical facilities, retail shops,
restaurants, a world-class theatre and
entertainment.
“A lot of our buyers are 55 years and
up and they want easy access to services,” notes Mr. Giffen.
Another plus is that in a condo development, owners can have a social life that
might be lacking in an isolated
cottage setting.
While condo fees are a frequently
raised concern among potential buyers,
Ms. Gregory says they make economic
sense.
“Condo fees really consolidate costs
into one bucket. When you own a cottage, you don’t think of how the costs
can add up, such as if you had to hire
someone to fix the roof, and how much
goes into annual maintenance,” she says.
“When you think of insurance and the
variety of other things you pay for, in the
case of a condominium, you are spreading it across everyone’s shoulders, so it’s
definitely cheaper.”
DEERHURST RESORT –
LAKESIDE LODGE
The launch of Lakeside Lodge at Deerhurst marks the first new real estate
construction there in 25 years on the
site of the original lodge, overlooking
Peninsula Lake.
Skyline Developments bought the
venerable resort in 2011, and gutted
and converted old lodgings into 120
completely updated Summit Lodge
condo suites that sold out within two
days. Lakeside Lodge offers completely
new construction and full ownership
condos in a range of sizes, starting from
$169,900, ranging from 400 to 1,200
square feet in size.
“Lakeside Lodge will have suites from
studios up to three bedrooms. When we
were selling Summit Lodges, some buyers
wanted larger suites and we can provide
that. Of the 162 suites in Lakeside, half
will have direct views of the lake,” says
Mr. Giffen.
The property’s zoning does allow for
fulltime residential use or “this is a good
example of a place someone wants to use
for the summer and then close it up and
rent it back to us,” says Mr. Giffen. “It’s a
lot less restrictive than other resorts. You
have the option to rent your unit out, but
it’s not mandatory. When buyers are looking at this type of property, they want to
use it when they want to use it. There are
no blackout dates or restrictive use.”
Some of the buyers will be looking
for “really affordable cottaging” says Mr.
Giffen, while others may already own a
cottage in the Muskokas and are finding
the cost of maintenance and property
taxes high, or they want a property they
can lock and leave. (Even modest cottages in need of work cost $500,000 or
more in Muskoka).
“And there’s the social component. In
this type of property, you do get to know
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opposite page: Lakeside Lodge marks new real estate construction
at the venerable Deerhurst Resort and allows for owners to live there
as much as they want or to put their units in the resort rental pool.
Amenities include a games room and lounge.
below: TreeTops condos offer casual yet stylish living in a cluster of
four-storey buildings in a natural setting and economical operating
costs thanks to geothermal heating and cooling. Toronto interior
designer Bryon Patton designed the model suite.
your neighbours,” says Mr. Giffen. “When
you are on vacation, you don’t want to
have to cook every night. We have restaurants and over 50 amenities and we have
activities year-round.”
The 162 suites will be in a four-anda-half storey building with a terrace
walkout from the main level to a pool
area overlooking the lake. While the
pool is among four for the resort and its
residents and guests, Lakeside Lodge
owners will have a private lounge and
games room.
The building, designed by Richard
Wengle Architect will have a contempo-
rary flair with peaked gables, pillars and
a cupola to reflect Muskoka flavour. The
Design Agency is designing the interiors.
Purchasers receive a complimentary
Initiation Fee to SkyLife Club (valued
at $25,000), entitling them to Members
Only access at Skyline Hotels & Resorts
properties.
Toronto-based Skyline owns over two
million square feet of real estate, has over
2,600 acres with development rights for
more than 7,000 residential units at communities such as Deerhurst, Horseshoe,
Blue Mountain and Port McNicoll.
TREETOPS AT HIDDEN VALLEY
TreeTops at Hidden Valley sits on a wooded setting overlooking Peninsula Lake
and Lakeside Golf Course. The developer, Club Leisure, forged a partnership
with Hidden Valley Highlands ski club to
take land it wasn’t using, and because the
development is on a ski hill, all owners
will be members of the ski club.
TreeTops will have 13 four-storey
buildings in all when it’s completed. The
second phase, currently on offer, will
have 24 units, priced from $279,900 to
$459,900, from 1,000 to 1,600 square
feet. A model home is on site, designed
by well-known Toronto-based interior
designer Bryon Patton.
Besides skiing, many recreational opportunities are at the doorstep, include
golf, hiking, boating, fishing, canoeing,
tennis and within minutes, Huntsville’s
shopping, medical facilities, cultural and
educational institutions. Deerhurst Resort, with its extensive roster of outdoor
activities,
restaurants
and spa,
is just
across the
road.
TreeTops’ collection of
two and
threebedroom
condominiums
are
housed in
intimate
buildings
designed to fit within the Canadian Shield
landscape. The developers also wanted
to safeguard condo owners against high
energy bills, so are using a geothermal
system to heat and cool the condos.
Geothermal uses a system of underground piping that collects heat naturally
found beneath the earth’s surface and
uses it to heat a building in winter and
returns the heat to the ground to cool the
building in summer. Each condo building
at Treetops will have its own geothermal
reservoir and each residence will be
installed with individual heat pump and
have in-floor radiant heating.
“In cottage country and very much so
in Muskoka, a lot of the condo products
are older and becoming outrageously
expensive to heat and cool,” says Lesley
Gregory, who with Adel Marco is partner
in Club Leisure, developers of TreeTops.
“We felt that we should be looking to the
future and one of the things was to think
of the energy efficiency of the buildings
and the other was to think of operating
efficiency, as well as having landscaping
and repairs all cared for.”
Geothermal is a long-proven, dependable technology and buildings with these
systems typically use approximately 40
to 65 per cent less energy than buildings
using fossil fuels. Geothermal also eliminates CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.
The TreeTops system will be installed,
maintained and operated by Ameresco,
an award-winning energy management
company that is a leader in renewable
energy solutions.
TreeTops’ other SmartLiving initiatives include water-saving features, site
planning that leaves as many trees in
place as possible and natural landscaping. TreeTops will also give owners the
opportunity to have a covered garage and
additional storage to put their car, boat or
other paraphernalia.
Unlike many cottages, which are not
useable year-round due to access issues
or because they are not winterized, TreeTops owners can live there as much or as
little as they want year-round.
“There is a shift in the demographic of
people who are going to spend more time
there. Boomers are not going to work so
hard over the next 10 years and we are
trying to build for usability,” says Ms.
Gregory. “It’s a place to live and to spend
time at, but it’s made so you can do that
easily, you don’t have to do chores and
if you have to lock it up and go away for
winter, you can lock up your stuff with no
worries, and you can have guests.”
TreeTops is attracting a range of age
groups, from those in their 40s to their
70s and that “creates more flavour,” says
Ms. Gregory. Many buyers are coming
from the surrounding area but whoever
the buyers are, they are looking for ease
of living, as well as “a balance between
intelligent space without being too small
or having too much space,” she says. “It’s
not hotel living, it’s not a compromise if
you want to live there fulltime.”
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Modern love in Bayview Village

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