ATTENTION TO DETAIL, INSIDE AND OUT
Developer enters ‘ uncharted territory’ with modern and contemporary look
There may be a lot of competition from other projects in the neighbourhood, but it’s the attention to detail that sets Jacobsen apart, according to Brandon Trent of project- marketer Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing.
“Let’s start with the obvious — these are modern West Coast contemporary homes, a very distinct look for this area,” Trent says.
“It was a little bit of uncharted territory for the developer to do a project in this style, but they saw a niche and went for it. South Surrey isn’t afraid of modern and contemporary.”
The exteriors are strongly rectilinear. Small patio overhangs echo the perfectly straight roofline, while banks of blackframed windows march across the building facade. The horizontal and vertical lines are softened by columns wrapped in nubbly stone, and warmed by cedar plank siding.
The walls step in and out at regular intervals, delineating the homes in a more individual fashion, and creating visual interest. Gutters and railings picked out in black aluminum contrast boldly against offwhite and grey- blue Hardie board panels.
“I want to point out that these materials — the stone, the cedar, and Hardie board — wrap around the building 360 degrees, and that there’s no vinyl or cheaper material,” Trent says.
“Some other places only focus on making the front of the building presentable.”
Twenty per cent of the homes were purchased after the opening weekend of sales in late February. Buyers were either people downsizing from larger single- family residences, or young families moving up from initial purchases.
Trent also expects some firsttime homebuyers, attracted by an increase in the exemption to the property transfer tax to $ 475,000. ( That was announced in the provincial budget tabled February 18 of this year.) Jacobsen’s ‘ C’ plan homes begin at $ 469,900.
Trent believes buyers are being drawn in by the prospect of living in homes that feel like single- family residences, without the additional cost and maintenance issues.
“Teardowns are $ 600,000 in White Rock, and all you get is the lot. Here, you get up to 2,219 square feet with all of this convenience — the only real difference is that it’s not fee- simple ownership ( where you individually own the land, as well as the building).”
At Jacobsen, he says consumers are thrilled by the idea of having side- by- side garages — where you park cars next to each other, rather than one in front of another — and enough interior space to have full “house- sized” furniture.
On the lower floor, there is open space adjacent to the twocar garage. It can be left as is to serve as a movie room, home office, wet bar or play area, or can be closed in partly to create a fourth bedroom. Some of the floor plans also mark off an area for an additional bathroom, so that the lower floor could become a guest area.
There are two different styles of home laid out on the main floor. In one, the living room occupies the front of the home, receiving natural light from a bank of windows. The dining room is in the middle of the long rectangle, opposite a powder room, perfect for entertaining. The kitchen is at the other end, with the main cabinets against a back wall and an island providing more storage, a breakfast bar, and space for a prep sink and the dishwasher.
Across from that is a family room or den, ideally located to supervise children doing homework or playing games while dinner is being made.
A balcony provides some outdoor space, and includes a naturalgas barbecue hookup.
In the other style, the dining and living area are combined to run across the width of a home.
Next are stairs to the other floors and a powder room on either side of a short hallway, while the kitchen and family room span the back area. Here, the kitchen is a broad U- shaped, creating room for a wall of pantry cabinets and lots of counter space. Three bedrooms are on the top floor. Project: Jacobsen Project size: 65 homes in 11 wooden buildings, each three storeys Project location: 2687 158th St., Surrey Residence size: 3- bed townhomes, 1,734 — 2,219 sq. ft Prices: from $ 469,900 Developer: Ikonik Homes Architect: Wilson Chang Architect Inc. Interior designer: Janine Wilson, The Mill Sales centre: # 1 — 2687 158th St., Surrey Hours: noon — 5 p. m., Sat. — Thurs. Telephone: 604- 538- 5591 Website: www. jacobsenliving.com Sales began: February Occupancy: Spring 2014
The master bedroom suite includes the requisite walk- in closet and ensuite bathroom, and is big enough to house a king- sized bed and two nightstands, if so desired.
A full- sized washer and dryer are on this floor, making it convenient to get laundry put away.
The appliances are installed side by side rather than stacked, allowing for a folding counter and shelving on top, and reinforcing the “house- like” feel.
While the developer was not aiming for a specific certification for green- building measures ( LEED, Built Green, etc.), certain measures were included as a way of reducing the overall cost of running the home. Hot water runs on an on- demand system, meaning it is more energy efficient and that there is no bulky hot water tank taking up valuable storage space.
Trent reports that BC Hydro evaluated the homes as having an EnerGuide rating of 82, far better than the ratings in the 50- to- 70 range often found in single- family homes that haven’t been updated.
Because the developer opted to use forced air heating, air conditioning can also be centrally installed as an upgrade — no need for unsightly window air conditioning units here, as there would have been if the heating came through electrical baseboards.
The townhouses also are already set up for central vacuum systems. Should they wish, homeowners can upgrade from carpeting to hardwood laminate flooring throughout.
Trent says all this comes in addition to Jacobsen’s location.
“Some of the homes have spectacular views toward Golden Ears and the Tantalus mountain range,” he explains. “You also have this amazing access to Highway One to connect to Vancouver or the Fraser Valley, and then it’s easy to get to Langley or the border.”
Jacobsen is also approximately 200 metres away — a walk of a few moments — from Morgan Crossing, where residents will be easily able to meet pretty much all of their retail needs. Schools are but a short walk away, as are recreational facilities, an off- leash dog park and nature trails.
Those wanting to stay closer to home can head to the development’s Clubhouse, which includes a lounge, gym, outdoor fire pit and theatre room.
Trent says he is confident they have thought of everything a buyer could want — at least, no one has yet brought up anything they’ve forgotten.