HOW ONE FAMILY CHANGED A WHOLE STREET
Family- owned contractor revitalizing Scarborough’s vernon road, one house at a time
Walk down Vernon Road, an established neighbourhood in Scarborough, Ontario, and you’ ll see surprising things going on.
Here and there, some of the small post- WWII brick boxes between Vernon Road’s lofty trees are being transformed i nto modern two- storeys with large glass windows and striking curbside appeal. At the same time, these new homes are being scaled to blend with Vernon’s existing streetscape; they fit right in.
The people behind Vernon Street’s revitalization belong to the family- owned firm SeventyNine Construction. Headed by Sophie Mastrokostas, SeventyNine Construction’s president and guiding force, this qualityfirst contractor is proving that the age of affordable, one- on- one home building and renovation is alive and well in Toronto.
“Our goal in renovating a client’s home, or building a new one for them, is to deliver a modern, well- designed, and properly- built project that stays within budget while meeting expectations,” said Mastrokostas. “To do this, we have structured SeventyNine Construction to keep the customer constantly in touch with what’s happening with their project; ensuring that they have a say in what’s being done from start to finish.”
To make this happen, SeventyNine Construction has developed a passwordprotected, online “Construction Management System’ that gives each customer direct web access to all documents, invoices, plans and photos associated with their project 24/ 7. “Using your iPhone, you can sign in from anywhere to see what is happening with your home, and direct us to make changes as you see fit,” Mastrokostas said.
As unique as SeventyNine Construction’s true ‘ customer- first’ approach is in the GTA’s home- building industry, it is the outstanding quality of their workmanship that catches people’s attention. “We had been doing renovations and additions for years, but when we were living on Vernon Road, we decided to build a new, modern home on the property for ourselves,” said Sophie Mastrokostas. “We did it ourselves because we were consistently disappointed in the poor quality, quick finishes, and cookiecutter designs used by other builders. As our new home went up, the neighbours liked what we were doing – and asked us to transform their homes as well!”
Around this time, Sophie Mastrokostas and her husband decided to enter the home reno/ building business themselves as a small, customer- focused firm. “My husband is an experienced master electrician and knows the industry from the inside out,” she said. “My own skill and experience in design and finance meant that I am comfortable in opening SeventyNine Construction. We wanted to not only providing expertise in solving our neighbours’ and other people’s home renovation/building challenges, but also be hands- on and give back to the community.”
Today, SeventyNine Construction has added a second storey and side addition to one house on Vernon Road, renovated the interior of a second Vernon house, and is building a new home on the same street; in addition to the home the Mastrokostas family built for themselves ( and has since sold) on Vernon. The company is also currently doing a new build home on Innisdale, around the corner from Vernon Rd.
“SeventyNine Construction totally renovated our existing house, essentially transforming it into a new building,” said Akis Tzakis, owner of 53 Vernon Road. “They always did the work right, ensuring that everything was being done precisely and to code. SeventyNine’s Construction Management System also made very easy for me to check in online, and make sure that everything was going to plan. I would recommend them 100 per cent!”
“What I like best about SeventyNine Construction is the very clean lines of their homes,” said Kartik Behl, who bought 48 Vernon Road from the Mastrokostas. “As a young couple, we wanted something modern in an established neigh- bourhood — and that’s what we got.”
For Sophie Mastrokostas, providing a superior level of personalized, one- to- one service is the reason she and her husband founded SeventyNine Construction. “Many quality construction firms start out small and personal, only to lose sight of individualized customer service as they grow bigger and delegate jobs to project managers,” she said. “At SeventyNine Construction, our goal is to never get so big that we are not here for you directly. This is why I manage the projects; not some hired project manager. It is also why we only use tradespeople with solid reputations who we personally know and trust.”
To get a better sense of ever ything SeventyNine Construction, check out their web site at seventynine. ca. There you can learn more about their entire customerfocused process; from the free initial consultation to meeting with the firm’s talented architect “who will factor in your lifestyle requirements, architectural wish list, neighbourhood and, of course, your budget,” said Mastrokostas. “Once you are happy with the design, we will provide you with a detailed construction price that covers everything you have specified; guide you through the contractual procedures, and then get started on your dream renovation or new home build.”
“SeventyNine Construction was born because our neighbours liked how we built our own family home,” she concluded. “We are now offering that same level of quality and personal attention to every home owner who works with us.”