AUTUMN OPEN HOUSE VISITS

2018 event, scheduled for this weekend and Oct. 27-28, to showcase eco-friendly projects

As information about our collective impact on the environment has become increasingly accessible over the last few decades, consumers in industries across the board are becoming more savvy and demanding of eco-friendly products.

The housing market is no exception to this phenomenon. In fact, builders are responding to substantial market demands by incorporating eco-friendly designs and high-efficiency construction materials into their new housing developments all over Montreal. That’s why during this edition of Autumn Open House Visits, an event that co-ordinates open houses in new projects all over Montreal and surrounding areas, there will be a special showcase on eco-friendly developments.

“I don’t think anyone would question how bright the future is for sustainably designed projects,” said Jacques Beaulieu, president of Jacques Beaulieu Consultant, and founder of Open House Visits.

“The demand for this type of property is going up in all sectors of the housing market, and so highlighting these projects was an easy choice for us when planning our events.”

In recent years there has been a lot of pressure from citizens, especially in West Island municipalities, to preserve certain ecosystems and minimize the impact of new developments on surrounding areas, said Daniela Lamorte, real estate broker with M Immobilier.

“So builders really have no choice but to adapt,” she added.

In addition to integrating the eco-friendly concept into their projects’ construction by using energy-efficient and sustainably sourced materials, builders are also considering the bigger picture when it comes to designing common spaces.

“For example, many developers are trying to minimize their impact on surrounding areas by integrating larger green spaces into their projects,” Lamorte said.

“Whether it’s by law, by design, or due to political pressures, it ends up benefiting the consumer and the environment,” she said.

Marc-André Roy, associate partner of Sotramont, a developer with projects throughout Montreal, said he believes the phenomenon has moved well past the trend phase.

“Because global warming and the importance of understanding our impact on the environment are now embraced by the vast majority of the public, this is the new reality for builders,” he said. “In addition to location and price, whether or not a project has been designed using sustainable techniques and materials is now a deciding factor for many buyers.”

Responsibly designed projects can distinguish themselves by participating in provincial programs such as Novoclimat, or internationally recognized certifications such as LEED.

“Nowadays, it has a value from a promotional standpoint, so you’ll see developers touting things like LEED certifications right along with the high-end amenities offered by a particular housing project,” Daniela Lamorte said. “To many buyers, it’s becoming an expectation; buildings are even integrating things like electriccar charging stations into their designs.”

That said, while the popularity and appetite for eco-friendly homes, townhouses, and condos has increased hugely in recent years, elements such as price still reign supreme.

“You can distinguish yourself from the competition by offering these certifications, but the deciding factor will be the price sensitivity relative to the environmentally-friendly approach,” Roy said.

“Buyers are unquestionably motivated by the eco-friendly ideology, but the concept truly resonates when the buyers can see tangible benefits to themselves, such as long-term cost savings on energy bills, or increased quality of life from improved air quality in the home, or more green spaces to enjoy nearby,” Lamorte said.

Creating a financial incentive for the consumer and the builder is paramount to the continued growth of sustainable housing developments, Roy added.

Some of the eco-friendly projects participating in this edition of Autumn Open House Visits include Square Equinox 3 and Quartier Greenwich in Pointe-Claire, as well as TOD condos and Zac townhouses in Bois-Franc, St-Laurent.

The Autumn Open House Visits event, which takes place Oct. 2021 and 27-28, will also feature upward of 70 housing developments in communities in and around the Montreal area. As usual, several different types of properties will be opening their doors to the public, including developments ideal for first-time buyers, luxury projects, new rental apartments, developments designed for seniors, and more.

For more information and a list of participating projects please visit www.monhabitationneuve.com

IMAGES COURTESY OF OPEN HOUSE VISITS Sotramont’s Zac3 townhouse project, in St-Laurent’s Bois-Franc neighbourhood, is one of the participants of this year’s Autumn Open House Visits event. The two-storey, three-bedroom townhouses, which start at $695,900, tax included, feature stained hardwood maple floors, 10-foot ceilings and large windows on the main floor, a Corian kitchen countertop with fully integrated sink, and a private terrace.

TOD condos in Bois-Franc, St-Laurent — with units that feature nine-foot ceilings in living room and bedrooms, large windows, and multiple styles and finishes to choose from — are among the participants in the Open House Visits event this weekend and next weekend.

The living room in one of Sotramont’s Zac3 townhouses opens onto a private terrace thanks to a sliding glass door which, along with the large window, lets in plenty of natural light.

ARTIST’S RENDERING COURTESY OF OPEN HOUSE VISITS Square Equinox 3, the latest condo building within Quartier Greenwich in Pointe-Claire, is described by its developer as “built to last with LEED Gold certification.”