At long last, southwest Winnipeg -- Charleswood, to be exact -- has a new condominium project under construction.
Unlike most condominiums in the area (existing and on the drawing board), this one isn't a 55-plus community, says Image Realty's Cheryl Thurston, lead realtor for the new 46-suite complex at 55 Windmill Way, on the site of Park West Shopping Centre off Dale Boulevard.
"I just want to let people know that even though it's called 55 Windmill Way, it's not a 55-plus community," she said. "It's not an age-restricted building in the least. In fact, of the 18 units we've sold to date (mid-March), most have been sold to young professionals, such as teachers and medical personnel."
It's easy to see why 55 Windmill Way has resonated with homebuyers, aside from the fact there's pent-up demand for such a project in Charleswood.
First, there's the location. Placed conveniently nearby several key amenities -- an Extra Foods store, Shoppers Drug Mart, TD Bank, a Curves women's gym, an insurance agency and 7-Eleven convenience store -- residents can shop, do their banking, work out, get their insurance and even a Slurpee, if the mood hits, without breaking a sweat.
"The beauty of this location is you don't have to jump in your car. You can walk to the bank, grocery store or drugstore," Thurston said. "It's a very convenient location."
Next is the quality of construction, she said.
"It's a solid, fireproof, steel-and-concrete structure that comes with a fully enclosed, heated parkade on the main floor. That's going to make for a very quiet building. And with brand-new windows and all the cars in the parkade below, noise is going to be minimal," she said. "With the concrete between floors, you'll rarely, if ever, hear your neighbour."
There will be no one-bedroom units in the building. Suites will all have two bedrooms or one bedroom plus den, and will range in size from 805 square feet to about 1,303 square feet. Interiors will be open-concept in design, with nine-foot ceilings, a neutral, earth-tone colour scheme and a bright interior. The layouts are also sensible, with the two bedrooms situated on opposite sides of the suite.
Even the 805-square-foot units have ample dining areas and living rooms. The larger units are very spacious, with the added bonus of having large, in-suite storage rooms. For added convenience, storage lockers have been placed on each floor, eliminating the need to head downstairs to the parkade, as is often the case, to retrieve or store an item.
There's one more added bonus that makes the suites exceptionally livable, Thurston said.
"Besides the exceptional construction quality, the best thing about the suites is the huge windows and just how much light they let in. Plus, all the windows open, so you can let in fresh air. Each unit comes with its own furnace and cooling unit and its own hot-water tank, so you can control your energy output. The envelope here is so tight, I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't need to turn on their furnace."
Not only are the suites efficient, they're fetching as well. The upraded show suite, the 1,116-square-foot Elm, comes finished in engineered natural maple hardwoods, black granite countertops and cappuccino maple cabinets, along with a ceramic-tile backsplash. Standard finishes include short-twist carpeting, oak cabinets, smart laminate countertops and linoleum flooring. All suites will have private balconies.
Prices and condominium fees will be reasonable. Suites will range in price from $216,000 to $397,000 (the latter the largest, fully upgraded unit), and condo fees will be $195 monthly at the low end, $295 at the top end. Construction is still ongoing, but it's expected most suites will be ready for possession by late summer or early fall.
To date, 18 units have been sold, most of them on the top-floor. Thurston said if you're looking for an affordable, well-built condominium, 55 Windmill Way would be an excellent choice.
"Most of the buyers have been coming from Charleswood and St. James," she said. "They've all recognized that 55 Windmill's location and construction quality is second to none, and that the value is exceptional."
For more information on 55 Windmill Way, contact Cheryl Thurston at 784-3288, Glen Macfarlane at 802-7873.
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