No matter whether you're a single, young couple, or empty nesters, the issue is the same: Affordable housing is hard to find.
Consequently, those looking for a first new home or move-up home can be caught in a serious quandary. What to do -- grind your teeth and pay what you can afford for an undersized condominium that will barely suffice, or break the bank for a larger, single-family home?
Or, in the case of empty nesters looking for a move-down home, do you make a lateral move to, say, a smaller, more livable bungalow that doesn't cost that much less than the 2,500-square-foot home they just sold -- an equally difficult call.
With so much at stake financially and accommodations-wise, it's important to consider all options. Turns out, there is an affordable option just outside the city in éle des Chênes in the form of a new condominium development that goes by the name of Shadow Ridge.
It's a thoughtfully designed condominium community that will offer residents ample square footage and great value through all its units, said Newman, Greenberg & Associates' Barry Greenberg.
"Three suite models will be offered -- the Sprint, a 692-sq.-ft., one-bedroom unit, the Nash, an 841-sq.-ft., two-bedroom unit and the Avenue, a 1,012-sq.-ft. unit," he said. "Not only does each suite feature a very bright, livable open-concept floor plan -- ceilings are nine feet high -- but they all have their own entrance, a feature that provides more privacy, and quiet."
Most importantly, the spacious suites will be affordable. Prices start at $152,400 for the Sprint; the Nash resides in the mid-range at $172,400 for the Nash, and the top price for the Avenue (all 1,012 sq. ft. of it) is an affordable $204,550.
Greenberg said the concept behind Shadow Ridge -- a joint project by Hillside Construction and NewCastle Developments -- is a simple one.
"The idea was to provide outstanding quality at an affordable, value-packed price point," he said. "The quality is outstanding throughout. Exteriors are acrylic stucco, while interiors are well-laid-out and beautifully finished. The developers wanted to make the finishing quality high enough so that buyers would have little or no need to upgrade."
That rather refreshing philosophy has led to interiors that are not only highly livable, but stylish. The great room comes with three cabinet options, durable laminate flooring plus a stove, fridge and dishwasher. Bedrooms will be carpeted, while stylish modern, white baseboards and casings will be a perfect complement to the earth-tone colour palette.
"We've tried to take care of all the little details, right down to pre-wiring suites for Internet (living room, kitchen and bedroom) and even putting conduits behind walls so you can fish wires easily while installing things like surround-sound systems," said Greenberg. "Units also have large windows positioned on either side so light flows through from front to back, making for bright, cheerful interiors."
Speaking of sound, he added suites also figure to be very quiet.
"Sound transfer from suite to suite will be minimal thanks to features such as double two-by-four walls, one inch of concrete between floors and of course, the separate entrances," he said. "There's one inch of air space between walls, which are also staggered. Because nothing touches, noise will be greatly reduced."
Storage won't be an issue, either.
"Each suite will have its own garage, along with plenty of storage space in the laundry/mechanical room. There's also ample closet space," added Greenberg's associate, Steven Vasko. "Buyers will be pleasantly surprised (by) how much storage space each unit offers."
Another pleasant surprise will come in the form of nearby amenities, said Greenberg.
"There's a Co-op, Subway and dentist nearby in a strip mall, plus a grocery store in town, with more services on the way. Shadow Ridge (visit shadowridgecondos.ca for more information) is a well-designed, affordable community only minutes from the city. Nothing in the city comes close to offering the space, finishes and price point that Shadow Ridge does."
lewys@mymts.net
