Leading-edge on the waterfront
Bowmanville offers serene lakeside living in modern designs
Lake Ontario’s eastern shore has a new edge in the form of modern design at waterfront community Lakebreeze.
It’s the last master-planned shoreline community of its size in the GTA, with 3.2 kilometres of frontage on Lake Ontario in Bowmanville. The largest community in the municipality of Clarington, Bowmanville has 44,000 residents.
Plans for Lakebreeze, being built by Kaitlin Corporation, include more than 1,200 homes on a 44.5-hectare (110-acre) site, between Bennett and Port Darlington Rds.
The first two phases have been launched with more than 140 houses sold, ranging from entry-level homes starting in the low $200,000s to $1.5-million detached homes. There are approximately 50 different designs, all modern in style.
“It’s the only parcel of this size, the only community of this nature in the GTA,” says Bill Daniell, president of Kaitlin Corporation. “There is simply nothing else like it.”
Kaitlin Daniell, 27, sales and marketing manager, says while the affordability and lakefront location are big draws for buyers from the local community as well as from Ajax and Pickering, the homes’ modern architecture also has great appeal.
“Everyone likes the look of the houses, especially the brick, and think it’s very cool that it’s a whole community of contemporary home designs,” says Kaitlin, Daniell’s daughter and namesake for the company.
Plus, she says, “everyone wants to live on the water.”
Kaitlin has taken the experience it gained from its other Bowmanville lakeside community — Port of Newcastle, developed over a 20-year span — in the design of Lakebreeze.
The two communities will be linked by a waterfront asphalt trail that will become
“The lake is what we love most about living here. When you walk by the water, it’s like you’re on vacation every day.” KATIE COULL BOWMANVILLE RESIDENT
part of Ontario’s Waterfront Trail.
While the Port of Newcastle features traditional, Cape Cod-inspired architecture, Lakebreeze has contemporary beach-style homes with clean lines and exterior finishes that include Hardie board siding and stucco.
“We stimulated our team to think outside the box. It’s pretty rare for a whole subdivision to be planned like this,” says Daniell. He adds that about 40 per cent of the site is dedicated to open space with parks and trails, and the linear community has been designed to maximize waterfront views.
Lakebreeze buyers will receive a two-year membership to the Admiral’s Walk Clubhouse at Port of Newcastle, a social hub for the community, that’s a 15-minute bicycle ride away.
The 15,000-square-foot clubhouse has amenities including an indoor pool, a landscaped sundeck, fitness facilities, a theatre room, a lounge, a restaurant, a tennis court and a playground.
There is also a marina and restaurant at Port of Newcastle that’s available to Lakebreeze homeowners.
Katie Coull, 28, lives in the Port of Newcastle with her husband, Pat, 30, where they bought a resale 900square-foot, two-bedroom condo in 2015. Both wanted to live near where they grew up and be close to their jobs in the area.
“It’s a beautiful community and a great lifestyle,” Katie says. “The lake is what we love most about living here.
“We love taking our dog for morning walks on the waterfront trail. It’s a great way to start the day. When you walk by the water, it’s like you’re on vacation every day.”
Katie’s father kept a boat at the Port of Newcastle for many years and so the marina and its restaurant are a regular part of the Coulls’ social life.
“We always bring our friends to the restaurant and to the wooden boat festival in the summer. They love it,” Katie says.
The Coulls also use the clubhouse amenities including the gym, pool and lounge.
She says while the community has residents of all ages, “we’re seeing more young couples than ever before.”
Kaitlin expects to also see a range of ages and lifestyles among home- owners at Lakebreeze.
She adds that the range of housing styles will allow buyers to move up or move down as their housing needs change, without having to leave the community.
Divided into East and West Villages, the first phases will be ready for occupancy in summer, 2017.
The priciest properties will be a limited collection of custom, waterfront homes with10-foot ceilings and rooftop balconies overlooking Lake Ontario. Window walls will open up to create indoor-outdoor spaces.
All other homes will have features including nine-foot ceilings, engineered hardwood, front door digital lock systems and Ecobee smart thermostats.
Other details include built-in spice racks, cutlery holders and pullout waste bins in kitchens, USB outlets, full-length mirrors, oversized patio doors and bicycle racks in the garage.