Townhomes near Baseline a hit, finally
Trendy yet timeless, custom-like designs for Fresh Towns prove popular
Builder Greatwise Developments has finally hit the jackpot with its struggling infill property near Baseline and Greenbank roads.
After several years and several incarnations, the latest vision for the property was unveiled in October and is selling so fast that Greatwise has had to move up the planned spring release of its remaining lots. The final 50 or so lots in the 90-lot development of freehold townhomes are available as of Saturday.
“We have a lot of people on the waiting list,” says Derek Nzeribe of Milborne Group, the real estate firm representing Fresh Towns.
The project has seen a few versions and a few names, most notably Qualicum Woods Crossing, a collection of five low-rise condo buildings launched in 2012. But while there was enough interest to sell the first two buildings, Greatwise was a victim of the condo slump that hit Ottawa shortly after the project launched, causing sales to stall.
Fortunately, the Toronto-based builder had designed the project so it could easily switch gears. The two buildings that did sell were the ones closest to Baseline, which meant the remaining chunk was contained and could be flexible for redesign. That redesign has resulted in a series of 90 townhomes in an enclave that makes for a gentler transition to the mature neighbourhood of one- and two-storey homes around it.
When a first attempt at the townhomes — Timberwood Towns — received a lukewarm response, Greatwise quickly pulled the plug, took a closer look at what their surveys were saying today’s buyers want and created Fresh Towns.
“The real estate market will change year over year, sometimes month over month,” Nzeribe says. “We really took the time to understand who the current buyer is.”
The new look and feel is indeed fresh, so much so that the initial release of 39 lots sold out before Christmas, well before anticipated, Nzeribe says.
The contemporary-styled homes feature two options: a somewhat more traditional three-storey town with a yard; or a more condo-like, back-to-back town with a fourth-level rooftop terrace. None of the homes has a basement and all are two or three bedrooms with a ground-level den.
Designed by architect Rod Lahey with interiors by West of Main, the look is reminiscent of custom infill homes rather than typical towns.
“Design is key to ensuring a lasting project,” Nzeribe says. “People want something that’s different.”
Exteriors are brick with cement board and wood-look siding accents in a modern elevation. Inside, the homes range from 1,037 to 1,661 square feet and are openconcept, with the main living area on the second floor. Almost all feature a kitchen island, there are two or three bathrooms, and laundry rooms are either on the main living level or on the bedroom level.
Designer Sascha Lafleur, who styled the interiors, wanted a combination of “fresh and trendy” with a look that would stand the test of time and appeal to a range of buyers. That meant light, bright and natural stone.
“Those kinds of elements, they don’t go out of style, which is really nice, and you can accent them with furniture, art, and really build on that palette,” she says.
For buyer J.C. Xie, Fresh Towns ticked off all the boxes. While the location was key — this young doctor wanted to be equally close to family in Kanata and Barrhaven, work in Kemptville and friends and colleagues downtown — the home’s features were just as important.
A first-time buyer, she was drawn to Westboro’s contemporary infill semi-detached homes, but couldn’t afford the price.
“The ones I liked were really expensive and the ones that were in my price range were older homes I wasn’t too keen on.”
Finding her ideal Westboro-type home at a price she could afford and in such a convenient area was perfect, she says. She chose a rooftop town, along with the one floor plan that offers a double-car garage. A bonus was all the features that come with the home without having to pay extra, she says, like quartz counters and hardwood flooring.
“That was a plus. There wasn’t a lot of need to upgrade further.”
Xie should be able to move into her new home by the end of the year as occupancy is expected in November.