Upgrade the views from your home office
Harrison Highlands Phase 2 offers high efficiency homes in a breathtaking natural setting
While many city dwellers envision themselves one day retiring to the peace and quiet of a home in a more rural setting, COVID-19 has many people re-thinking that timeline.
When the pandemic began, many companies asked their employees to work from home for the foreseeable future. Those no longer tethered to a desk downtown find themselves with the opportunity to pursue the retirement home of their dreams and upgrade the views from their home office.
Phase 2 of Harrison Highlands from Odessa Group provides all the amenities and services to make such a lifestyle a reality. In these high efficiency dwellings (complete with rooftop solar panels), home offices are enlivened by unspoiled views of the Fraser River, the nearby mountains, or the surrounding valley fields.
When not working, residents of this Kent-based 300-home master planned community enjoy perks that big city office jockeys can only dream of: hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing in and around Harrison Hot Springs and Agassiz; a plethora of farms and historic buildings that Kent is famous for; and the watersport mecca of Cultus Lake.
But while tranquil, Harrison Highlands is hardly isolated. Nearby Chilliwack is a business and shopping destination with an extensive network of medical, educational, and other services. Also, the urban centers of Surrey and Vancouver are an easy drive via Highway 1 (with the surrounding mountains and farmland making the commute a distinctly pleasant experience).
In order to avoid compromising the rural setting, Odessa Group located Harrison Highlands on 90 acres of prime Mount Woodside land. “The elevation of this site and the building orientations are such that phase 2 guarantees fantastic views,” says Nathan Stone, Odessa’s managing partner.
In 2017, buyers between 55 and 65 as well as people who are semi-retired and commute to Vancouver several times weekly sold out the first phase of Harrison Highlands, and the same demographic is expressing keen interest in phase 2’s 59 homes and five styles of residences (the Salsbury; the Hatzic; Chehalis; Alouette; and Nicoman). “Urban dwellers regard the lifestyle change of Harrison Highlands as a trade up, especially in 2020,” says Stone.
Arguably, the Craftsman-style homes with Hardie siding and cultured stone accents are as special as their surroundings. They each sit on 8,000- and 9,000-square foot lots, and; sizes range from a 1,400-squarefoot single-storey rancher on a crawl space up to a 4,000-square-foot 1.5-storey dwelling with a full basement.
The homes have three beds and 2.5 baths; many contain a master on main.
Nine-foot ceilings and great room vaulted ceilings are standard, as are oversize windows, walk-in kitchen pantries (some large enough to accommodate a second refrigerator), and heated floor tiles in the bathrooms. “These elements make the homes an ideal place for those working remotely,” says Stone.
The layouts were developed ergonomically, most evident in the kitchens where the sink, refrigerator, and range form a triangle, thereby making the space more functional. Three interior design schemes are available: The Rendezvous, with its distinctive dark-coloured cabinetry; Fireside, with its warm wood tones; and Veranda, which is light and bright with white cabinetry.
Especially noteworthy are the `invisible’ benefits of each home. Specifically, Harrison Highland dwellings are built to exceed the average energy efficiency code. “Energy Star advisors worked with us during the design phase to help us achieve our performance goals in a cost effective manner, and as a result each home is Energy Star certified,” says Stone.
To take one example, this means only 2.5 air changes per hour of air leakage compared with a typical new home in Metro Vancouver that has five to six changes hourly. This is possible due to advanced HVAC systems (including air source heat pump technology) triple pane windows, and extra insulation in the walls and attics - all of which make each Harrison Highlands home 20-40 percent more energy efficient than a standard dwelling. “Plus, the solar panels on every roof have upgrade options, and there are rough-ins for electric vehicle charging outlets,” says Stone.
Better still, the homes start at only $600,000. “That’s another reason why we regard phase 2 as the crowning jewel of Harrison Highlands,” says Stone. “For people wanting to work remotely in a peaceful setting, they can sell their current properties, trade up, and put a substantial amount of money in their banks.”
Stone concludes, “I would urge prospective buyers to come out and see what life can be like out here. We have great summer specials to discuss with them.”
The Harrison Highlands sales centre is located at 1475 Stromdahl Place, Agassiz; the sales centre and show home are open Wednesday to Saturday 11am – 5pm and Sunday Noon – 5pm, with Health & Safety protocols in place. For more information call 1-888-758-0850.