COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
A look at Beaconsfield
Located along the water in the West Island, the warm community of Beaconsfield offers country-style living along with the convenience of an urban setting. Its tree-lined, peaceful streets are home to a range of properties, and its relaxed lifestyle has something for everyone.
Beaconsfield covers an area of 11 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 19,850 residents. The city stretches along nearly nine kilometres of Lac StLouis shoreline, and is bordered by Pointe-Claire, Baie-D’Urfé, Highway 40, Kirkland and Ste-Annede-Bellevue.
Almost the entire territory of Beaconsfield is made up of residential areas, including homes, parks, community amenities and neighbourhood stores. The sector south of Highway 20 is a mature neighbourhood, entirely built and exclusively filled with detached single-family homes. But the area north of Highway 20 includes Angell Woods, a popular green space that has been identified for conservation by the city and the agglomeration of Montreal in the recent revision of the Urban Development Plan.
“The entire West Island is generally a popular place for families to seek homes, but the community of Beaconsfield stands out as one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in the area,” said Mayor Georges Bourelle.
“It’s a unique suburban area of the West Island,” added Claudia Argento, real-estate broker with Abbey and Olivier Agency. “It features beautiful homes, cute local shops and restaurants, large parks and great schools, lengthy walking and cycling paths, and breathtaking water views along the lakeshore.”
The community has four main commercial areas with everything residents might need, from pharmacies and grocery stores to spas, shops, and restaurants. In addition, attractive amenities including parks, outdoor community pools, and schools are well located throughout the city. Residents can also make use of its large recreation centre, equipped with a pool and arena, and its library and cultural centre, which offer activities for all members of the family.
“For newcomers, and especially those with children, the proximity of these attractive assets is ideal,” Bourelle said.
“We’ve worked very hard over the years to be a family-oriented community; at the other end of the spectrum, for seniors, Beaconsfield was even recently certified by the Quebec government as an age-friendly community.”
The city also makes an outstanding effort to protect its four-legged residents; Beaconsfield’s city council adopted an animal welfare bylaw that won praise last March from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
“We’re also home to the biggest dog run in Montreal and the city has received several awards for its progressive and compassionate animal bylaw,” Bourelle said.
As for its thriving real-estate market, Beaconsfield leaves little to be desired in terms of variety.
“The market is very healthy and active in Beaconsfield,” Argento said. “It’s a sought-after area for most buyers looking to live in the West Island, and that’s true for everyone from young families to the elderly.
“In fact, the demographic is very diverse and friendly.”
The community has a wide range of housing options, from starter homes to multi-million-dollar waterfront estates.
“Buyers are attracted to the area for the quality of its services, its parks and green spaces, and the variety of different properties to choose from,” Bourelle said. “Although there are pockets of newer homes throughout Beaconsfield, most of the area was built in the 1960s.”
Many of these older homes have been completely renovated and updated with new kitchens and bathrooms, and modified for more modern, open-concept living space, he added.
For instance, a renovated fourbedroom family home originally built in 1966 on Harwood Gate St. is currently going for $689,900, while a two-bedroom townhouse in a 2006 development on Elm St. is listed for $469,000.
The range of available properties is attractive to buyers, but many are drawn to Beaconsfield for its small-town feeling and longstanding solid reputation.
“The community is a natural gem,” Bourelle said. “Its track record is excellent for fiscal responsibility, the environment and sustainability, and its family-friendly atmosphere.”