BROOKLINE ON THE MARCH
Developer leading huge expansion in Kanata North
Just as Minto Communities closes out its current east-end and westend developments, the builder is set to open two new ones to replace them.
In Kanata, Arcadia (across the Queensway from the Canadian Tire Centre) is just about sold out, with only a handful of homes left, including Minto's five models. That comes on the heels of the sellout of Morgan's Creek in Kanata North. Replacing them is Brookline, a new community of more than 900 singles and towns that launched Aug. 7.
Meanwhile, across town in Orléans, Minto's latest Avalon neighbourhood, Aquaview, is also almost sold out, to be replaced soon by Avalon Vista, a community of more than 550 towns and singles in the ever-expanding Avalon development. “The timing is related to the sellouts of nearby communities, so we can continue to sell and build homes in both Kanata and Orléans,” says Jan Coulis, Minto's director of marketing. “Both of these areas have limited supply of new homes with a high level of demand.”
BROOKLINE IN KANATA
Brookline represents the march of growth along March Road as development edges farther north from Kanata's high-tech hub and is the first builder project to be started in the massive Kanata North Urban Expansion Area.
The expansion area encompasses almost 450 acres (181 hectares) and five builders (Brigil, Claridge, Uniform and Valecraft are the others).
It will include multiple schools and parks, pathways, a park-and-ride and possibly a library.
Minto's portion features provisions for a school and “plenty of green space and ways to explore through the multi-use pathways that connect to nearby amenities and surrounding communities, and also a six-acre preserved woodlot featuring an 11-acre pond,” says Brent Strachan, Minto's Ottawa division president. “There will also be seven acres of dedicated park space, providing even more opportunities to get outside.”
Brookline launched with 66 singles and two-storey towns starting at $654,900 (at the time of writing) and, as an indicator of the softening market in Ottawa lately, they did not immediately sell out. Still, Minto has already sold more than half of the lots initially released, Coulis notes.
Homes include new single-family floor plans, the newest version of Minto's two-storey townhomes with larger finished basements, and “refreshed” back-to-back three-storey towns, although the three-storey towns will be released later.
For buyer Hanna, who asked that her last name not be used, being able to move up to a new-build single-family home while staying in the area was a huge draw.
“Minto was on our radar ... and the location played a huge role for us,” she says.
She and her husband, who both work in Kanata high-tech, chose the Clairmont — a three-bedroom home on a 36-foot lot with 2,188 square feet — because they “didn't want something too big. I think it's perfect in terms of size for us.”
Among the new single-family floor plans introduced at Brookline are two that offer multi-generational living. Both the Waverley and the Quinton have options for main-floor guest suites with threepiece bathrooms.
“Providing this flexibility within our floor plans was based on customer feedback for homes that accommodated multi-generational living,” Coulis says. “In addition, these areas can be used as home offices, something that people have been asking for in today's workingfrom-home environment.”
The name Brookline speaks to both progress and nature, Coulis says. “Brook” is a nod to the natural features of the area, including nearby Shirley's Brook and the woodlot and trails, while “line” is in reference to the innovation of Kanata and the decommissioned CN Rail line-turned-multi-use path that borders the community.
Initial occupancy is expected in late 2022.
AVALON VISTA IN ORLÉANS
Minto has built and sold more than 5,500 homes in Avalon since sales first launched in 2000. Vista represents the fourth Avalon neighbourhood Minto will launch and it's to be built just south of the original Avalon community on the east side of Tenth Line Road.
“We're extremely proud of our long history in Orléans, and Avalon Vista provides another opportunity for our team to build upon our past communities in this area and provide more spaces to not only live, but also play and get outside,” Strachan says.
Minto describes Vista as an enclave surrounded by green space and with a community pond and multi-use pathways at its centre.
“The community has been designed around this setting,” says Coulis. Homes will include a mix of singles (including the new Waverley and Quinton multi-generational floor plan options), two-storey towns and three-storey back-toback towns.
“It's important for us to adapt to the needs of our future homeowners, and we've recognized that more people have been looking for a home to accommodate multi-generational living,” says Strachan.
While an exact launch date is still to be determined, Minto expects to begin sales at Vista early this fall.