On The Map
Low-rise project in Creemore has an array of outdoor diversions close by
Sales materials for The Brix condo development in Creemore put rural pleasures front and centre. So why the cosmopolitan name?
The answer has more to do with brewing than the cladding on the four-storey project by MDM Developments. A Brix value, it turns out, allows brewers to calculate the alcohol content of beer by measuring its sugar content before fermentation — and if the picturesque Simcoe County town of Creemore is famous for anything, it’s beer.
The Brix is going in two blocks west of Creemore Springs Brewery and will occupy the site at 121 Mary Street. The project, according to MDM president Doug Gray, will allow residents to enjoy the setting, and smalltown life in Simcoe County, “without being tied to cutting the grass, weeding the garden and other household responsibilities.”
This “carefree country living” has only become more appealing as the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on, he adds. “We noticed that COVID has produced a bit of a market shift. With people working from home and commuting less often, and with outdoor activities becoming more popular, a place like Creemore is suddenly in high demand.”
MLS data backs him up. Since August 2020, the average price of homes in Creemore has jumped by 59.1 per cent. Toronto prices, meanwhile, have risen 0.8 per cent.
As well as being 90 minutes by car from downtown Toronto and an hour from Pearson International Airport, the historic town is less than 30 minutes from an array of outdoor diversions — including marinas, golf courses, ski resorts, and hiking and cycling trails — as well as big-box shopping and other services in Collingwood. Downtown Creemore, for its part, puts local amenities such as restaurants, public schools, libraries, galleries, boutiques and spas within easy walking distance.
“Instead of waiting till retirement to have the lifestyle they want, people are making the move earlier,” Gray says. “When we started planning pre-pandemic, interest was mainly among locals and retirees wanting to
enjoy Ontario summers, and then go to Mexico or Florida in the winter. Now, we’re seeing more interest from families and couples, especially in our larger suites.”
Ranging from 700 to 1,385 square feet, Brix’s open-concept one-, two- and three-bedroom units feature nine-foot ceilings, gas fireplaces and roomy balconies with oversized sliding glass doors. Kitchens have islands with breakfast bars, stainless-steel appliances and undermount double-basin sinks, while bathrooms offer oversized vanities with quartz countertops and glass shower enclosures.
While The Brix will also be home to a fitness centre, landscaped outdoor lounge, underground parking and meeting rooms, “the biggest amenity is our location,” Gray says. “You can walk a block and be in downtown Creemore, or hop on your bike and ride up to Blue Mountain or to Georgian Bay and go to a winery for lunch.”
Since sales launched in July, MDM has sold about two-thirds of the suites in the first of Brix’s two 36-unit buildings. Construction is slated to start in the spring of 2022, with occupancy in the fall of 2023.
Will The Brix accelerate
the gentrification of Creemore? MDM has developed several condo properties across rural southern Ontario and, according to Gray, works with small municipalities to maintain the rural allure. “The sites we pick are too small for bigcity developers, so they don’t alter the look and feel of smaller towns. Maintaining the charm of our properties’ settings is our top priority. That’s as important to us as it is to locals.”
Units at The Brix start in the $500,000s. For more information, visit thebrixcreemore.ca.