ARISTO CONDOS
Four-phase project in Laval
Aristo Condos, rising on the edge of the tony single-family-home neighbourhood of Val-des-brises in Laval’s Duvernay district, is a beautiful project, says Mathieu Lalancette, and it’s what people are looking for: an affordable quality condo; not too many pricey amenities; low fees; and proximity to commerce, highways and public transit.
“It’s not just a bunch of buildings dropped into a parking lot overlooking a fast-food restaurant,” said the sales director of Aristo Condos. “We’re creating a beautiful small neighbourhood.”
The four-phase 242-unit project by Construgep and Groupe Mach will transform this 200,000-square-foot lot at Avenue des Gouverneurs, just short of the roundabout between Highway 440 East and des Aristocrates Avenue.
The four buildings will rise sideby-side along the northern portion of the property, while a stand of trees, a commercial centre, and a sound wall will buffer the development from the southern end closer to the highway.
Built on a very human scale to feel like an existing part of the neighbourhood, the buildings’ lateral placement will afford all residents easy access to the landscaping while all share an outdoor pool and urban chalet.
With a smart brick-and-wood exterior with large balconies, units will range in size from a 400-square-foot studio to a 1,200-square-foot three-bedroom apartment. Indoors, condos feature high-end laminate wood flooring, nine-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, kitchen cabinets extending to the ceiling, contemporary ceramic tiles in bathrooms and kitchens, and large windows for maximum natural light.
Choosing a design is easy with four distinct design palettes offered: Chic, Contemporary, Urban and Nordic. That makes choosing walls, floors and counters a snap. Bathrooms conceived for function and ergonomics feature suspended vanities, ceramic walls and flooring, and harmonious stylish colour schemes. Larger units boast bathrooms with separate showers and baths.
Studios start at $154,900, with three-bedroom units fetching up to $319,900 plus taxes. Optional storage lockers are priced at $2,000 to $3,000. Parking options include indoor($25,000) and outdoor parking($15,000) with an electric charging station option.
Apart from the common areas – the pool, chalet and a gym in each building — there is no exhaustive list of inclusions, but that’s a good thing, said Lalancette. “Our pricing is already very aggressive, and from what we’ve seen in developments elsewhere in the city, often a lot of these features are built into a higher final price. Notary fees, appliances, the final number is all in there. So, we are being very aggressive; that means air conditioning, garage spaces, storage lockers, it’s all extra. That’s how we offer affordable prices.” Monthly condo fees are currently estimated at about 20 cents per square foot.
Excavation and foundation work have begun on Aristo, with delivery of Phase 1 (80 per cent sold) slated for the spring of 2021 and Phase 2 (52 per cent sold) a few months later. Structural and finishing work on each building will take place about a month apart.
The design and layout of the buildings will allow access to a lot of the grounds and mingling with neighbours, said Lalancette — once the self-distancing rules surrounding the coronavirus are eased, of course. Buyers hail mostly from Laval, many of them first-time buyers and young couples.
“We even see many buyers from
Montreal who want quick access to the city but don’t have the means to buy there, where it’s too expensive. They come here because it’s beautiful and with quick access to PIE-IX and Papineau, you can be in Montreal in five to 10 minutes.”
The STL bus at the development’s doorstep runs to Laval’s Cartier métro station, said Lalancette, and with quick access to the major roadways “you can get to the centre of Montreal faster than from some parts of Montreal itself.”
The project is also minutes from Cité de la santé hospital, Gare Vimont, and five minutes from the Smartcentres Laval East, the popular Adonis store, as well as the usual smattering of fast-food and coffee shops.