HEIGHT OF INTEREST
Ledingham Mcallister's Highpoint development in Coquitlam to rise 52 storeys and offer impressive views, plenty of amenities
Planning for new highrise homes like Ledingham Mcallister's soaring 52-storey Highpoint in Coquitlam started several years ago, long before the coronavirus struck. But as fate would have it, many of Highpoint's innovations, such as setting the minimum size of units at one-bedroom and flex space or using the top of the tower for a common-area lounge, seem to be tailor-made for living through COVID-19 times.
These particular design decisions are proving popular with those visiting Highpoint's display suites on Clarke Road, a few steps from the Burquitlam Skytrain station on the Evergreen Line.
It all comes down to livability, says Nadee Myers, Ledingham Mcallister's senior vice-president, sales and sales administration. “So many people work from home now, and COVID has accelerated that. We always do one-bedroom and den so that there is a spot to work from, so there is a spot to put the dog or cat. It is also important to
make sure you have a USB port so that you can sit at the (kitchen) island and work.”
Myers and veteran marketer George Wong — whose firm Magnum Projects has teamed up with Ledingham Mcallister to sell Highpoint — both say that the Tri-cities area was always considered a suburban area consisting
of mainly single-family, detached homes. But, beginning in 2012 with Ledingham Mcallister's nearby Silhouette towers, the region has evolved into neighbourhoods that offer a range of housing products. Pricing and density make homes more affordable for both downsizers and their adult children, looking to remain in the community where they grew up.
That has also prompted Ledingham Mcallister and other developers active in the area to shift their focus from investors to end-users who buy units to live in themselves.
“The decision was made by Ledmac to bite the bullet and go after people who will live here in this
tower,” Wong said. “In two-and-ahalf weeks of previews, the people who have shown the most interest in the one and den and one and flex are single, professional or single couples at work. There are some young couples with one child who have been looking at the one and den as well.”
That explains in part how Ledingham Mcallister decided to reserve the top of the tower — traditionally designed for the largest and most expensive suites in the building — making it available to all 303 owners in Highpoint, half of whom will live in one-bedroom homes. From computer-generated images, the 360-degree views are pretty impressive, stretching from the North Shore mountains and the Fraser River to downtown Vancouver and the Gulf Islands beyond. The Sky Lounge has a fully-equipped kitchen with a formal dining room and a cosy fireside lounge, while the remaining floor space is dedicated to an outdoor lounge with a fireside patio seating and a dining area.
Ledingham Mcallister also built two guest suites that owners can offer to their friends and relatives — an appreciated safety feature during current times.
The market today is different from the last decade, Wong said. “When the market was going through the roof from 2012 to 2018, anything sold. But now we have to be more intentional about product design. Who are we designing this for? We are back to things that people care about and what they care about in terms of how they live.”
Highpoint owners can easily walk to grocery stores, restaurants, banks and medical offices while having access to nearby trails for hiking and biking as well as Burrard Inlet in nearby Port Moody for paddle boarding and kayaking.
Owners can choose from two designer palettes created by the Mill Design Group. All homes come with nine-foot ceilings that let in lots of light. The kitchen and living areas have laminate flooring with an option to upgrade to engineered hardwood. Full-sized front loading and energy efficient Whirlpool washers and dryers are contained in closets. Many of the balconies are designed into the building's corners, providing more privacy and a functional space for a table and chairs. All homes have air conditioning.
Kitchens feature soft-close full-height cabinetry with LED fixtures and under-cabinet lighting, quartz composite countertops, porcelain backsplashes as well as pantries and kitchen islands in select homes. Appliances include a Fisher & Paykel stainless-steel fridge and a five-burner gas cooktop and undermount convection oven, both by Kitchenaid.
Most master suites come with spacious walk-in or walk-through closets, and USB ports in all suites. They also feature modern, frameless glass showers with tile surrounds and chrome finish Kohler shower sets. Vanity countertops are quartz composites with undermount sink and Kohler fixtures and Eurostyle porcelain floor tiles.
Other common amenities on the 11th floor include a games room, a fitness centre with an adjoining yoga room, a multi-purpose room with meeting tables and a shared study and workspace. There is also an outdoor patio dining area, patio lounge seating designed for barbecues and a children's play
area. There are 85 electric vehicle charging stalls, visitor parking and bicycle racks for visitors in the parking garage.
Keeping up with current consumer trends, owners have Amazon and other online purchases delivered to a lobby concierge for storage.