Springbank Development Corp offers new townhomes in an established Vancouver neighbourhood at Walk to Main ›› p.4
Moving
Upward
September 9, 2010
Local builder and renovator Michael Upward opens the door of his Metro Vancouver home, built new to suit his family’s specific needs. Martin Knowles photo
Walk to Main offers new Vancouver townhomes to homebuyers.
Green is big at Walk to Main project
visit – extended family and other guests, was important. They purchased a Metro Vancouver property, demolished the old house, and built a new house to suit their specific tastes. Upward, principal of North Shore-based Upward Construction and Renovation Ltd., was born in New Zealand. He fell in love with Canada after a trip, and has lived here ever since.
It seems over-reaching to refer to a townhouse development as a social experiment but that is just what Springbank Development Corp., along with partner Forrester Development Corp., was involved in when they built 24 two- and three-bedroom townhouses in the East 300 block of 33 Avenue in Vancouver, a project entitled Walk to Main. This community, one of the most established in Vancouver, is made up of mostly single-family homes with a few condo buildings. But younger families that had grown up in the area and wanted to stay close to family and friends had no stepping stone from a condo unit to a single-family home. Springbank Development saw the opportunity to build townhouses that would provide the missing link and help keep young families in the community they love. However, the area was not zoned for townhouses. “This project was built under what is known as the ‘Neighbourhood Housing Demonstration Project Program’ with the City of Vancouver,” says Springbank’s John Richie.
CONTINUED ON P.2
CONTINUED ON P.4
Upsizing: movin’ on up A larger home can mean more space for family, friends, guests MAGGIE CALLOWAY Many homeowners reach a time in their lives when they must consider downsizing, or moving to a smaller space because the family home becomes a large, empty ‘nest.’ But that’s not how it has to be for all homeowners.
There are those who choose to move “up” rather than “down” – from a small condo or townhome into a larger home for varied reasons: to have more space; for the children who are planned or on the way; for aging family members; for a home-based business; or for visiting relatives. For local builder and renovator Michael Upward and his family, having a new Metro Vancouver home that was large enough to house their family – including elderly parents who live elsewhere but who will
61 FRESH APARTMENT HOMES STARTING FROM $119,900! Mon-Thurs 1pm-4pm; Sat & Sun Noon to 5pm
2 • New Local Home | September 9, 2010
“We didn’t want a bunch
of small rooms” Off the front: “We
planned the home so the public living space is on the lower floor.” – Michael Upward CONTINUED FROM P.1
Originally Upward made his living buying properties, fixing them up, and then selling them. In doing so, he gained an intimate understanding of what it takes to make a house attractive to buyers. When the economy faltered in the late 90s, Upward made a change. “I’d had so many requests from so many people asking me to work on their homes, we decided to form the company,” he says. “We started building new homes and doing major renovations. Our craftsmanship and the quality of our work have given us, in the past dozen years, a great referral network.” Upward takes great pride in hiring certified and skilled employees. He also hires people on apprenticeship programs. A philosophy of the company is “knowledge is power,” says Upward, so the company embraces education at every opportunity. “That has been the mainstay in my company,” Upward says. “I don’t want people looking over their shoulder; I want them to feel totally confident that they can do the job that needs to be done.” The company values its employees, and sets up safety meetings once a month in order to share information and provide feedback. His employees helped build the brand-new home for Upward and his family after the old house on the property was torn down. A few trees were removed to expose a fabulous, 180-degree ocean view, and architect/ designer Gail Jaeger designed the home to
Movin’ on UP
The Upwards’ new home was designed with the family in mind, from the open concept to the heated towel tiles. Martin Knowles photos
maximize that view from every room possible. “We wanted a home with open-flow living; we didn’t want a bunch of small rooms,” says Upward. He also wanted a home that was welcoming to visitors but also, comfortable for his family. “We planned the home so the public living space is on the lower floor,” he says. “There is a skylight that comes from the upper floor through the stairway onto the kitchen, so it is flooded with natural light.” Both Michael and his wife have elderly parents who live in other parts of the world, so it was important to have proper accommodations for them when they visit. A suite was built on the main floor, so no stairs are involved, and everything was planned down to the smallest detail – even the bathroom stand-alone shower is walk-in with no lip, to prevent falls stemming from stability issues. The upper floor is hardwood with carpet in each of the three bedrooms. A separate media room for the TV, games and computers is also on the top floor. One of the details is the radiant heating in
the bathrooms with an extra treat in the master bathroom: the underfloor heating continues into the shower. The tile up the side of the master bathtub is also heated, so the waiting towel is warm and toasty after the shower. And it’s a feature Upward and his family absolutely love. “We enjoy this so much we now talk our clients into including these two items in their new homes,” he says. Upward’s company and its employees understands how stressful it can be to embark upon building a new home. Budget is usually a major issue and clients can feel like they are staring into an abyss. One system his company uses, called ‘Exact Time,’ helps cut down on any confusion or unexpected costs during the build, Upward notes. “Basically, we have a job clock on every site (and) all employees clock into this system,” he says. “It gets rid of that paper trail and also allows us to increase our quality of estimates because we have history to fall back on.”
Publisher: Fiona Harris • 604-575-5822 • publisher@newlocalhome.com Editor: Tricia Leslie • 604-575-5346 • editor@newlocalhome.com Reporter: Maggie Calloway • maggiec@blackpress.ca Advertising Sales: Black Press National Sales • Adrian Saunders • 604-575-5812 • adrians@blackpress.ca Online Advertising: 604-575-5822 Designer: Brad Smith • bsmith@blackpress.ca New Local Home is published once a week by Black Press Group Ltd. (Suite 309 - 5460 152 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9) 350,000 copies are distributed free across Metro Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.
New Local Home | September 9, 2010 • 3
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PORT COQUITLAM’S FIRST HIGH-RISE Located at Shaughnessy St. and Lions Way. One and two bedroom homes plus a unique collection of townhomes now selling! Call or Visit Us Today 2950 Glen Drive (directly across from Coquitlam Centre) Open daily (except Fridays) 12-6pm
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ONNI.COM Onni_CBA_06_10-333x14.indd 1
*Please contact an Onni sales representative for details. This offer only applies to select homes. Onni reserves the right to make any modifications and/or substitutions to this offer, without notice, should it be necessary, or to cancel this offer in its discretion. E.&O.E.
9/3/10 3:56 PM
4 • New Local Home | September 9, 2010
Sustainable Vancouver living
Walk to Main offers great value CONTINUED FROM P.1
“This allows you to go in and rezone a property in a neighbourhood that doesn’t have a certain type of housing, in order to demonstrate a new form of housing to the neighbourhood.” Walk to Main has proudly been ‘Built Green’ (Built Green is an industry-driven, green building program builders voluntarily enter) with great attention paid to each detail. The lumber is from third-party certified, sustainably harvested sources for wall, floor and roof framing. There is also a rain screen system that separates cladding from the wall sheathing with a drainage plane manufactured from recycled material. The indoor air quality of each unit has been considered; homes come with insulation that is third-party certified to have low or zero formaldehyde. Low VOC paint is used throughout every Walk to Main home; check out the Springbank Development Corporation website for a full list of sustainable, green details. CONTINUED ON P.5
Located in the East 300 block of 33 Avenue in Vancouver, Walk to Main is a brand-new collection 24 townhomes for sale. Martin Knowles photo
Close to Vancouver. Close to Whistler. Closer to nature. Now selling new homes in Squamish . . . just 45 minutes to Whistler or Vancouver on the new Sea to Sky Highway
$20,000 in purchase credits available for the first 10 buyers The Maples is launching a new series of homes, located next to Brennan Park off Finch Drive. Close to all amenities.
For more information call 1.888.262.2808 or go online to www.fintreypark.com
Ranchers and two-story single family homes ranging from $499,000 to $579,000. Financing packages are available.
or visit our Presentation Center on the corner of Finch and Bryson in Squamish. ( See hours and location under “Find Us” on the website).
Stylish, comfortable homes
New Local Home | September 9, 2010 • 5
Fantastic shopping nearby CONTINUED FROM P.4
The Arts & Crafts-inspired townhomes, designed by architect Hywel Jones, are built with great style and comfort in mind. Walk to Main is close to Vancouver’s always-popular Main Street, known for its eclectic collection of businesses and wide array of shopping opportunities. Each floor plan has been designed to maximize light and exposure, and extra attention has been paid to the construction of the party walls to maximize soundproofing. The exterior of the complex is lushly landscaped and fenced, with a central courtyard and community garden plots to help homeowners reduce their carbon footprint. Inside the attention to detail continues, with dream kitchens featuring custom-designed maple shaker or stylish white CONTINUED ON P.6
Kitchens at Walk to Main come with stainless steel appliances and custome-designed maple or white shaker cabinetry. Martin Knowles photo
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
CORNERSTONE
GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF
LANGLEY’S SMARTEST, SEXIEST CONDOS. CORNERSTONE’S ONE AND TWO BEDROOM HOMES ARE LOADED WITH COOL DESIGN FEATURES:
VESSEL SINKS, FLOATING FIREPLACES AND HUGE BBQ-WORTHY PATIOS.
“OUTSTANDING NEW HOME VALUE”
YET THESE HOMES COME AT A SURPRISINGLY AFFORDABLE PRICE (FROM $184,900).
Real Estate Weekly
PLUS, YOU CAN BE SURE YOUR NEW CORNERSTONE HOME IS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE; MARCON HAS BEEN BUILDING OUTSTANDING HOMES IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS. NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE TALKING.
“MARCON’S PAINSTAKING ATTENTION TO DETAIL BECOMES CLEAR” New Local Homes
“THE CABINETRY, FLOORING, BATHROOMS, “FLOATING” FIREPLACE & KITCHENS REFLECT A CLASSIC DESIGN WITH CONTEMPORARY TOUCHES”
SEE OUR 5-STAR SHOW HOME TODAY
Vancouver Sun
Prices subject to change. E.&O.E.
604.534.6000
cornerstoneliving.ca
Showing Daily 12 – 5pm except Fridays DISCOVERY CENTRE 5655 – 210A Street, Langley
6 • New Local Home | September 9, 2010
New homes, great location
Homes are green at Walk to Main CONTINUED FROM P.5
cabinetry and granite countertops finished off with hand-set tile backsplashes. The kitchens also have quality stainless steel appliances, including an 18 cubic foot frostfree fridge, built-in dishwasher, self-cleaning ceramic-top range with above-range microwave hood fan combination and a garburator. The charm extends to the bathrooms, which come with custom-designed cabinetry and granite countertops with handset ceramic tile tub surrounds and flooring. To preserve water, low-water consumption toilets in all bathrooms with one dual-flush toilet per home are included. Walk to Main’s two- and three-bedroom homes start from $430,000. Visit www.springbankcorp. com for more information.
Open-design floorplans maximize space at Springbank Development Corp’s Walk to Main in Vancouver. Martin Knowles photo
New Local Home | September 9, 2010 • 7
< Skye-Soleil-Aqua Presentation Centre, Unit 3, 1233 Main St., Squamish. 604-616-1215 = Furry Creek-Ocean Crest 415- Furry Creek Dr. 604-787-1456
@ Morgan Heights 26th Ave & 164th St. 604-531-1111, 604-420-4200 A Cathedral Grove 2738-158th Street. 604-541-7383 B SouthPort 3677-143 St. 604-292-0871 C High Street 402-2950 King George Hwy. 604-536-9333 D Summerfield 109-172A St. 604-536-1155
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Port Coquitlam
< Wedgewood 768 Orwell St. 604-980-2508 = The Kimpton 210 W. 13th St. 604-988-3020
< Pearl 2343 Atkins Ave. 604-308-0227 = The Shaughnessy (on Lions Park) 2950 Glen Dr. 604-461-2750
Vancouver
Richmond < River Green 5111 Hollybridge Way. 604-233-2633 = Mezzo 7373 Turnill St. 604-725-1250 > Emerald 7180 No. 3 Rd. 604-244-8333 ? Hamilton Station 22788 Westminster Hwy. 604-279-8866 @ Wishing Tree Alexander Gardens. 604-871-4296 A Cambridge Park 9191 Odlin Rd. 778-297-7511 B Saffron 180-8360 Granville Ave. 604-270-2482 < Highland Park 160th & 24 Ave. 604-542-8995 = Glenmore at Morgan Heights 161A St. & 24 Ave. 604-542-8863 > Wills Creek 160th & 32 Ave. 604-542-6200 ? Kaleden 2729-158 Street. 604-541-4246
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< Bedford Landing 23015 Billy Brown Road. 604-888-2176 = Seasons & Prelude at Milner Heights 208th St & 72nd Ave. 604-539-9484 > Time at Walnut Grove 9525-204 Street. 604-694-1819
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< Jewel II 6130 Wilson Avenue at Beresford. 604-456-0688 = Motif at Citi 4400 Buchanon St. 604-298-8800 > Adera - Green 7438 Byrnepark Walk. 604-439-8858 99 ? Perspectives 4710 Lougheed Hwy. 604-294-4995
< Victoria Hill McBride Ave. 604-523-0733 = Inter-Urban Begbie and /columbia St. 604-523-0081 > Port Royal Holy Ave. and Salter St. 604-520-9890
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< Augusta Walk / Woods at Provinceton 18199 70th Ave, 778-571-1088 = Hazelwood Estates 7881 164A Street. 604-657-5220 > Knoll 7348 192A Street, Surrey. 604-574-0001 ? Quattro 114-10768 Whalley Blvd. 604-581-8000 @ Ultra 105-13339 102 Ave. 604-588-6999 A Taylor 1-8767162 St. 604-584-1114
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< The Mark 1035 Seymour St. 604-687-4353 = Pacific Spirit UBC Westbrook Village. 604-221-8878 604-264-6477 > James 289 W. 2nd Avenue. 604-275-1000 ? Spice on Robson Nicola and Robson streets. 604-683-5555
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< Brighton at Silver Ridge 13851 232 St. 604-270-1889 = Duet 22977 116 Ave. 604-453-4962 > Main Stone Creek 10116-241 St. 604-463-5000
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? Cornerstone 5655 210A Street. 604-534-6000 @ High Point Equestrian Estates 20048 2nd Ave. 604-531-1111
200th St.
On Tour
> Tatton 1240 Holtby, Coquitlam. 604-552-2220 ? Larkin House (East) 1456 Avondale St. 604-461-7113 @ Belmont 1456 Avondale St. 604-461-7113 A Sterling 3412 Wilkie Ave. B Larkin House 1131 Pipeline Road. 604-552-1113
8 • New Local Home | September 9, 2010
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from
$399,900 INCLUDING HST
Perfect place. Perfect timing. t Prices include HST for a limited time only t Purchase now with only a 10% deposit t Enjoy now or move in next Spring t A short 90-minute commute from Vancouver t A $5 million, 10,000 sq ft clubhouse and pools
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COTTAGE
SIZE
TYPE
PRICE
Rosemary
1168 sq ft
2 Bedroom Rancher
$ 424,900 including HST
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1284 sq ft
2 Bedroom + Loft
$ 459,900 including HST
Daffodil
1570 sq ft
2 Bedroom + Loft
$ 514,900 including HST
www.CultusLakeCottages.com | 1.877.888.4950 Discovery Centre & Display Cottages Open daily from 12 noon to 5pm except Wednesday
| 1777 Columbia Valley Rd. Lindell Beach, BC
Copyright 2010 © | Higherground Project Marketing Inc. Brokerage and Sales by Multiple Reality Ltd. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.