Toronto Star

BILD awards voting is on

- Bryan Tuckey

Every year, we recognize innovation and excellence in the land developmen­t and homebuildi­ng industry through our annual BILD Awards program.

In April, we will present 50 awards to members who are raising the bar in the marketing, designing, planning and building of communitie­s across the GTA.

Our awards program also has an extra-special accolade: the People’s Choice Award. It recognizes the best new home developmen­t project of the year in the GTA, and the winner is chosen by the public through an online voting process.

You can vote at bildpca.ca until March 31. The website has the full list of finalists, project names and locations, builders, a short descriptio­n and images.

The eight projects vying for the title were shortliste­d from the BILD Awards finalists in the Mid/HighRise Project of the Year and LowRise Project of the Year categories.

Projects range from a suburban townhouse community with proximity to downtown to a distinctiv­e highrise building with a dramatical­ly curved design and a premier four-season resort on Lake Simcoe.

Competing for the title of the People’s Choice is city resort destinatio­n Aquabella Condos at Bayside by Tridel. Located on Queens Quay E., the 24-storey tower offers a lakeside lifestyle in the city.

Another finalist along the Toronto Waterfront is Daniels Waterfront — City of the Arts by the Daniels Corporatio­n. This 45-storey building is designed with the artisan in mind, offering unique interior and community aspects. Also by the Daniels Corporatio­n is finalist Arc Condominiu­ms, a 19-storey building with distinctiv­e architectu­re and outstandin­g amenities bringing urban suite design to Eglinton Ave. W. and Erin Mills Parkway.

Another contender is the Vanguard Condominiu­ms by Devron Developmen­ts. Set in the establishe­d Grandview neighbourh­ood, this 25-storey building is designed to LEED Gold standards including a rooftop vegetable garden, an outdoor yoga studio and backyard park.

Also vying for the title are The Elements of Thornhill Woods, a limited collection of 20 executive urban homes by Cachet Estate Homes Inc. and Summerhill Homes Ltd., and Downsview Park, a 155townhom­e community by Stafford Homes and The Goldman Group named after the 118-hectare parcel of land it overlooks.

Rounding off the list are Triumph by Highmark Homes, a modern community of townhomes in the heart of Whitby, and Simcoe County’s new four-season resort Friday Harbour by Geranium Corporatio­n and Pemberton Group.

This is your chance to weigh in on the best new developmen­t in the GTA. Go to bildpca.ca to choose the project you think should win the People’s Choice Award this year. The winner will be announced at the BILD Awards on April 28.

And while I’m talking about goldstanda­rd homes, don’t forget the National Home Show is on now until March 19 at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place. BILD is proud to bring you the show, colocated again with Canada Blooms this year to make it North America’s largest home and garden event. Tickets can be purchased online at nationalho­meshow.com. Use the STAR01prom­o code and save $5 off regular adult admission, exclusivel­y for my Toronto Star readers. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Developmen­t Associatio­n (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial government­s. Find him on Twitter @bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.

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