A FERNIE GETAWAY
Developer aims high
It was no luck of the draw that brought Simon Howse to Fernie — it was a billiard ball. Fate, if you will. Entertaining his Canadian cousin Joe, who was visiting Howse in Australia in 1995, the conversation somehow got around to a rundown hostel in Fernie, B.C., and how with some sweat, muscle, time and cash, it could be turned into something special.
Seems Joe had an open, transferable airplane ticket home. Cousin Simon wagered if he could beat Joe at a game of pool, he’d take the ticket and check out this possible business venture. The winning ball dropped into the bottom of the leather pocket, Simon scooped the ticket and flew to the B.C. city where he also saw the potential in the Sundowner Hostel. Then he flew back to Australia.
Two years later, Simon returned to Fernie and started redeveloping buildings — including the present day Raging Elk Hostel, of which Joe isthesoleowner—inthedowntown core. Now, 17 years later, Howse, along with Parastone Developments partners Tony Dennis and Jason Smith, are undertaking their most ambitious endeavour yet — a $200-million master-planned community called Montane Fernie.
Covering about 300 hectares and flanked by Brewery Creek and Coal Creek, Montane will be a mix of 140 homes, everything from cottages to estate homes, blending in with some of the most impressive mountain terrain in the region. Home sites, priced from $138,000, will range from 0.1 acres to 0.26 acres, says Howse.
Homes, he notes, will incorporate the comfortable feeling of the mountain-modern design with courtyards, outdoor terraces and porches.
“There’s a growing appetite for mountain living with the amenities of a city, and that’s what makes Montane so great — it’s just a few minutes’ walk from the historic downtown,” he adds.
All homes are designed to capitalize on the spectacular mountain scenery. Neighbourhood streets and greenways are oriented to the views across the Elk River to the Cedar Valley, the Lizard Range, Fernie Mountain Park and the iconic peaks of the Three Sisters, says Howse.
“There’s not a bad home site on the property. Some are better than others, but there’s no bad home site in terms of views and proximity to trails and downtown Fernie,” he adds.
Fernie and the mountains that completely encircle it are as one, and the development of Montane has been guided by the community’s social, physical and recreational connections to the interior B.C. city’s core and what Howse describes as a “deep commitment” to direct economic and environmental investment in and for the community.
“Montane is setting a new standard of community recreational responsibility,” he adds.
With strong recreational ties, Fernie’s newest addition to its growing residential component fits right in. Home buyers in Montane will be able to take advantage of an existing trail system that will be preserved and will, in fact, be accessible from within 100 metres of each home. It will be further enhanced and expanded through a partnership with the Fernie Trail Alliance. Plans for Montane also call for setting aside 18 hectares for agriculture purposes and will include an opportunity for residents to put their green thumbs to work in a community garden. But that’s down the development road a bit yet.
Road construction and some homesite servicing is underway as is work on about four kilometres of trails. Sales are rolling and Howse is seeing strong demand from the local market, an aspect he calls an, “extremely positive indicator” for Montane’s development. In terms of a buyer profile, there is a demographic cross-section.
“We’re seeing empty-nesters, some of whom are looking to downsize, and young families looking to relocate. We have also had interest from energetic young families from Calgary seeking a weekend escape in the mountains,” Howse says.
A destination location for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, Fernie is home to world-class mountain stream fishing as well as biking, cross-country and downhill skiing, hiking, boating, golf and wildlife spotting.
“There’s something for everyone in Montane,” says Howse.
The land Montane is being developed on was formerly owned by a developer with a vision to build a master-planned golf course community, but that never happened, and Parastone bought the land this past April. Parastone has been a significant player in the redevelopment of Fernie for 15 years with two successful residential developments under its belt — 901 Fernie, which was the result of the restoration of a circa-1908 schoolhouse — and Veneto Place.
“We’re excited,” says Howse.
Fernie is showing steady growth both physically and economically and having a development like Montane is a “recipe for success.” It’s more good news for a place Rolling Stone magazine once called, “the coolest town in North America” and National Geographic ranked among the top 25 ski resort locations in the world.