vol4issue26_homes

The Columbia Valley Pioneer • June 29, 2007

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Columbia Valley

New Homes • Developments • Resale Homes • Multi-Family • Interior Design

Parkside Place: liveable luxury

By Sandra Kelly Columbia Valley Homes The minute you step into the show suite at Parkside Place, you realize there’s something different about the condominium apartment, something faintly wonderful.

Your overall impression is that the space is both attractive and generous. The walls are painted in soothing sage green tones and the rooms are beautifully furnished.

The great room is a good size. The kitchen is functional. The French doors admit plenty of light and offer a pleasing view of the evergreens across the street.

Minutes pass before you realize that the suite is utterly silent. Given its location across from Pothole Park in busy downtown Invermere, it should be noisy. And, even though the French doors and all the windows are closed, the air inside is fresh. That’s because Quiniscoe Homes uses the latest technology to build homes that are both beautiful and healthy for living.

Like all Quiniscoe developments, Parkside Place is built to R-2000 standards. Every suite has Energy Star appliances, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and its own heat recovery ventilation system.

The show suite has 1,135 square feet of well-proportioned space, including the great room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a laundry enclosure and a storage room. The master bedroom has generous his and hers closets.

In the kitchen you’ll find darkly stained cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Throughout the apartment there are brushed chrome accents that give it a clean, contemporary feel.

The Berber-style carpet and ceramic tile are in the warm mushroom tones. It’s a lovely living space that says “home.”

Parkside Place currently has a few suites that can be readied for occupancy in 30 days. The show suite is open daily from 12 noon to five p.m.

READ ALL THE PIONEER’S REAL ESTATE NEWS AT: www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

June 29, 2007

2 • Columbia Valley Homes

Penners take pride in Parkside Place

By Sandra Kelly Columbia Valley Homes

The show home is beautifully furnished, and made with top-quality materials.

From early in construction, it was obvious that Parkside Place was going to be extraordinary.

For one thing, the construction materials were top-drawer. For another, the first of the three buildings comprising the combined residential/commercial complex was shaping up to be a stunner. That was three years ago.

“We take a lot of pride in Parkside Place,” says Dave Penner, co-owner of Quiniscoe Homes with his wife Doris.

“We feel that it provides an excellent introduction to downtown Invermere.”

It certainly does. Visitors and locals alike are often spotted admiring the first two phases of the beautiful development on 7th Avenue across from Pothole Park.

With their dark cedar siding and stone and timber accents, the buildings blend beautifully with the streetscape and pay homage to their alpine environment.

That’s in keeping with the Penners’ lifelong convictions about what con-

temporary architecture should be. They founded Quiniscoe Homes in 1980 as a builder of custom, energy-efficient homes in the Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. In 1998 they relocated to Panorama.

Quiniscoe is now a national leader in energy efficiency and long-term sustainability, and has won many design and innovation awards. “We are an R2000 builder,” says Dave. “It’s what we believe in and it’s what we do.”

The Penners, who met in Austria, were married in 1981. Dave had experience with building homes and wanted to start a company. Doris was eager to learn. Both had spent time in Whitehorse.

Dave says they founded Quiniscoe in that northern city with a “why not” attitude. “The economy was terrible.

Interest rates were high and there were no jobs. We thought, ‘If we’re going to struggle, what does it matter where we are?’”

Continued on next page

Parkside Place is downtown living, Invermere style.

Stroll to the Farmer’s Market or to the lake... enjoy a capuccino just steps from your front door... and live in the heart of BC’s recreational paradise. Move in for summer!

Come visit our new showhome this weekend, and see for yourself: • the remarkable quality and attention to detail put into every Quiniscoe home.

• homes as healthy as Invermere’s mountain air, built to R-2000 EnviroHome standards and beyond.

parksideplacebc.com

Visit our Sales Centre at Parkside Place at 9017th Avenue (Main St.) for more information. Open Tuesday through Saturday (and Sunday, July 1st) from noon until 5:00 pm. Or call (250) 342-7561.

Columbia Valley Homes • 3

June 29, 2007

Couple turned their vision into reality Continued from previous page He estimates that they have since built “somewhere between two and three hundred” energy-efficient custom homes. All have been special, but the Parkside Place project brings them particular joy and satisfaction.

When it is finished, Parkside Place will consist of ten town homes, 18 condominium apartments and 13 street-level commercial spaces.

The 1.35 acres on which they are built was owned by the District of Invermere. Three years ago, the district issued a call for development proposals. Quiniscoe’s concept was chosen.

“The district had a vision,” says Dave. “It had specific criteria and guidelines. Doris and I saw an empty field and decided to build something there that no one had dreamed of building.” Specifically, combined commercial and residential spaces, built to the highest possible standard for energy efficiency and healthy habitation, in a location that would offer a fabulous lifestyle to homeowners with discerning taste.

Says Dave: “The goal was to provide urban experiences in a small town. And I think we’ve achieved that. You can walk to shops and restaurants from Parkside. You can walk to the beach. People who work downtown can walk to their offices. It’s a lifestyle.”

The concept has been well received, he says. “We’ve had so many positive comments from our buyers. They appreciate everything that we’ve tried to do at Parkside Place. Doris and I have been building homes for a long time. We know that people get a feeling from their homes. Our buyers feel good about Parkside Place.”

Natural earth tones and jewel colours make this downtown Parkside Place show home glow.

in the heart of Invermere.

Quiniscoe Homes is proud to introduce Carpenter’s Lane, Invermere’s newest community!

Enjoy walking distance to schools, parks and recreation. Two- and threebedroom homes and townhomes featuring Craftsman-inspired architecture are pre-selling now. Priced from $410,000. You and your family will appreciate: • the remarkable quality and attention to detail put into every Quiniscoe home.

• homes as healthy as Invermere’s mountain air, constructed to Built Green Gold standards and beyond.

The location of Carpenter’s Lane is shown in the map at left. For more information, please visit Quiniscoe’s Sales Centre at Parkside Place, 901-7th Avenue (Main Street), open Tuesday through Saturday (and Sunday July 1st) from noon until 5:00 pm.

Or call (250) 342-7561.

4 • Columbia Valley Homes

June 29, 2007

Condos more about lifestyle than cost

By Sandra Kelly Columbia Valley Homes Until now it’s been widely assumed that most people choose a condo over a detached singlefamily home because of the lower price tag. Condos are thought to be starter homes, a way for young, first-time buyers to get into the market.

Lack of yard work is still the number one reason for buying a condo.

According to a recent Ipsos Reid poll conAndy Smith, a realtor with Re/Max in Invermere, ducted in Calgary for Tosaid that’s definitely true of the Calgarians who buy ronto Dominion Bank, that’s still true in some cases, but more people are now choosing condos primarily a recreation condo in the Windermere Valley rather for the maintenance-free lifestyle they offer. More- than a detached home. “These buyers are called ameover, condos are increasingly viewed as luxury homes, nity migrants now. They come here strictly for the amenities. Whether it be golfing or boating or hiking, thanks to on-site amenities such as gyms and spas.

Only 26 percent of the respondents said they or even just the mountains, they’re here for something would choose a condo over a detached home for rea- and it’s definitely not yard work. They have grass to cut sons of affordability. By contrast, 36 percent said they back home. They don’t want to cut it here as well.”

It helps to explain the popularity of resorts, he didn’t want the yard work and repairs that come with a house. Most of the latter respondents were second said. “With a single-family home, there’s no caretaker. and third-time buyers more concerned about lifestyle Today’s recreational buyers want to be able to lock up and leave. And they take comfort in the fact that than cost.

someone is caring for their investment when they’re not around.”

Not surprisingly, only 25 percent of the survey respondents said they would consider raising a family in a condo. A similar poll conducted last year in Vancouver revealed that 34 percent of buyers in that more expensive city would consider doing so. Most of the Calgarians polled, even the first-time buyers, said they wouldn’t buy into a complex that allowed children.

Proximity to public transit used to be a key selling point for condo buyers. The poll revealed that it is now less of a selling point for car-crazy Calgarians than for residents of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, especially commuters living far away from their workplaces.

Most of the Calgarians who said they would choose a condo over a detached home stipulated that they would not spend more than $400,000 regardless of their reason for buying it. Roughly 23 percent said they would be comfortable only with a selling price below $200,000. However, the average selling price of condos in Calgary was $332,257 in May. That’s up $60,000 from the same month last year.

Only four percent said they would spend between $400,000 and $600,000. About 68 percent said they would want a minimum of two bedrooms. The poll didn’t question how much people were willing to pay for monthly condo fees.

Columbia Valley Homes • 5

June 29, 2007

Who says the prairies have better sunsets?

This recent photograph taken by noted local photographer Jill Unger shows the beauty of a mountain sunset. Cloudy June skies lifted just long enough for the setting sun to peep through.

• Dramatic entry framing views of the Purcell Range • Bright formal dining room with views of the Rockies and Lake Windermere • Unique open plan layout with two bedrooms on the main floor, and a full walkout basement with billiard room, family room and guest bedroom • A clean, bright kitchen with skylights and adjoining pantry • A short walk to Kinsmen Beach

Offered for sale at $849,000. Please visit our Open House on Saturday from 11:00 to 3:00, at 1716 Second Avenue.

For more information, call (250) 341-5808.

June 29, 2007

6 • Columbia Valley Homes

Housing market slower, but strong

THE PIONEER WORKS HARDER!

THE PIONEER WORKS HARDER!

After an almost ten-year run, Canada’s housing market finally appears to be taking a breather.

A recent study shows that housing starts through the first four months of 2007 are down eight percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

Existing home sales actually picked up through April, and could set a new record this year. But better balanced supply conditions overall have finally pushed average price increases into single-digit territory.

A period of more moderate activity appears in store over the next several years. Each of the three major housing cycles (in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s) were followed by a slowdown, typically lasting six years and resulting in an average price decline of 14 percent.

However, the report says the current cycle should outperform the average, given continued buoyant conditions in the Western provinces, and little evidence of significant overbuilding or speculative buying.

Over the coming decade, the country’s average annual rate of population growth is projected to slow to just 0.8 percent. However, household income growth and the level of interest rates have a statistically greater influence on housing sales and price appreciation.

The report was prepared by Scotia Economics as a resource for the clients of Scotiabank and Scotia Capital.

Your last chance at affordable living in Invermere!

Priced from only $145,000 to $165,000 for a limited time.

Finally, a place you can call home–or your home-away-fromhome–in the heart of the beautiful Columbia Valley! Phase One of Cedarwood Glen Estates is now selling. Eighteen twobedroom condominiums are now offered for sale, from only $145,000 to $165,000.

Arrange a viewing or request more information by calling (250) 341-1182, or emailing sales@cedarwoodglen.com.

Act quickly - these units are selling fast!

When you’re home, you know it. cedarwoodglen.com

Columbia Valley Homes • 7

June 29, 2007

Cathy’s Workshop: making more storage

By Cathy Dalrymple It has been my experience that no matter what shop I have worked in, there never seems to be enough space.

You can, however, try to utilize the space available by being creative with storage and work benches.

Most of us with a workshop have some kind of wall storage for hanging tools and of course, the beauty of the shop, a big red shiny tool caddy.

Beyond that it’s pretty much shopmade storage ideas. I have a few to share with you.

For some time I had my wood clamps just leaning in a corner or clamped to the side of a cabinet, but when I finally got around to attaching a couple of six-foot 2x2s securely to the wall, I found inner peace. Well, that is to say I found more floor space.

Simply hang the clamps and tighten to the 2x2. This makes it easy to locate the required size and when you are ready for a glue up you’re not scrambling and untangling your mess of clamps.

One of my favorite shop ideas is to have everything possible on casters. I have my outfeed table on fourinch casters with locks.

I can turn it sideways for cross-cutting or turn it long for running lengths of wood.

It also allows me to move the table out of the way when I have a large project being assembled in the shop.

I have casters on three machines, as well as a working platform that I can roll around on when working under a table or on lower portions of a project.

It is similar to something a mechanic would use.

Working with wood will always re-

quire a saw horse or workbench at some point.

It can be used for support during a cut, gluing up and clamping a project, or staining and finishing.

Although I have a workbench with a vise and drawers and storage space, it is typically covered with something I’m working on and I have always got more than one thing on the go, so like a spare pair of hands, an extra work surface is also helpful.

See the drawing for a simple work station you can build in no time. The great thing about this design is that you have a choice of three heights to work with. You merely flip the box to the desired height and work away.

As a tip, you could paint three of the sides of different heights and call them the bottoms - this way you will never use a dirty side for your projects.

If you had two of these you could span a sheet of plywood across for a larger workbench. I used six-inch strips of plywood and biscuit-joined and

screwed the box together.

This is only a guideline so go ahead and make yours to suit your needs and use whatever wood is available to you.

Cathy Dalrymple owns Toby Creek Custom Woodworking in Invermere.

She also writes regularly for Canadian Home Workshop magazine.

Call her at 342-3022 or e-mail cathy_tobycreekwood@hotmail.com.

Your Local

COLUMBIA VALLEY REAL ESTATE

Professionals

INVERMERE 1022B-7th Ave.

INVERMERE

1022B-7th Ave.

Independently Owned and Operated Paul Glassford Representative

(250) 341-1395 pglassford@telus.net

Ofce: (250) 342-6505 Fax: (250) 342-9611

Invermere Office – 526B – 13th Street Fairmont Office – #4, Fairmont Village Mall Phone (250) 345-4000 PAUL ROGGEMAN 341-5300

Fax (250) 345-4001 www.rockymtnrealty.com paul@rockymtnrealty.com

Dedicated to all your real estate needs.

Bernie Raven Representative

(250) 342-7415 braven@cyberlink.bc.ca

Independently Owned and Operated

It’s the Experience!

Ofce: (250) 342-6505 Fax: (250) 342-9611

Ed English

Jan Klimek

(250) 342-1195 janklimek@telus.net

Main Street, Invermere

(250) 342-1194 edenglish@telus.net

(250) 342-6505 INVERMERE

www.ReMaxInvermere.com

Independently Owned and Operated

w w w. e d a n d j a n s l i s t i n g s. c o m

Mountain Creek Properties Ltd. Strata, Rental & Commercial Property Management; Real Estate Sales & Leasing

For professional management of your strata corporation or rental property, overseen by a CertiÀed Property Manager (CPM®), CertiÀed Professional Residential Property Manager (CPRPM) and Power Engineer, with the accounting done by a CertiÀed General Accountant, please contact Bill Weissig by phone at 341-4178, or by email at bweissig@mountaincreek.ca.

Our property managers are licensed under the Real Estate Services Act of B.C. For more information regarding their extensive qualiÀcations and experience please go our web site at http://www.mountaincreek.ca.

RockiesWest Realty Ltd.

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED 230 Laurier Street Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Ron Maciborski SALES REPRESENTATIVE

(250) 342-5704 (Cell) (250) 342-5599 (Office) (250) 342-5559 (Fax) e-mail: ronmac@rockieswest.com

June 29, 2007

8 • Columbia Valley Homes

Tour our first completed homes!

At Spirits Reach, life is lived gazing over the peaceful waters of Columbia Lake. Private lake access with lakehouse and a breathtaking 250-acre ranch surround you in the bounty of the great outdoors. Indoors, the estate finished 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom homes are grounded in environmentally sustainable design, energy-efficient and maintenance-free construction, and enduring architecture. Homes with stunning lake views are available.

Our newest phase of lakeside homes is now available from $499,000.

Visit our Discovery Centre and ďƒžrst completed homes, just 10 minutes south of Fairmont Hot Springs, BC. Call 1.877.349.7575 or visit www.spiritsreach.com. Discover a true getaway from the hustle and bustle.