Way back in 1936, the Okolita family bought a tract of land off St. Mary's Road where they created three farms that became market gardens for more than 30 years.
By the 1970s, the Okolitas began selling that land. Eventually, after aggressive petitioning by area residents, Parc Okolita Park was created in 1991, with part of the land behind Dakota Community Centre designated a City of Winnipeg park.
Fast-forward to 2011. After owning the land for the better part of 20 years, the city decided to sell it, and Karma Development Corp. acquired the prime piece of real estate. Now, a 72-unit, bungalow-style condominium complex, fittingly called Parc Okolita Park Condominiums, is planned to occupy the site.
The complex has been designed to be a masterpiece of urban living and a striking residential community, but the developers intend to stay true to the park's countrified roots.
"It was important to us to maintain the heritage of the park," said Karma's president Myles Kraut. "The Okolitas appreciated us making the effort to put their name on the development, as well as our commitment to preserving the trees and greenery in and around it.
"The development will be a hallmark of sustainable design with the use of low-impact materials, energy-efficient appliances and maximized light, all within an area where green space, wildlife and beautiful landscaping will be kept front and centre."
Kraut's partner at Karma, Marc Kipnes, said the complex will target empty-nesters who've spent most of their lives as residents of south St. Vital.
"Making this development available will ensure that people who've lived in St. Vital all their lives can stay here," Kipnes said. "They'll be able to stay close to family and friends and all the stores, services and amenities they're familiar with."
Most importantly, those empty-nesters will be able to live in comfort and style at an affordable price. Prices for the bungalow units, which will range in size from 1,143 to 1,376 square feet, will start at $299,847 and be capped at $399,847, depending on the location and size of the unit chosen. Condominium fees will range from $155 to $185, depending on a unit's square footage.
The condos will come with the amenities empty-nesters enjoyed in their single-family homes for so many years, Kraut said.
"We tried to incorporate all the different features that they're accustomed to, like an attached garage and a basement, for example," he said. "In this case, basements will be constructed from insulated concrete forms (ICF's) for superior insulation and soundproofing. Basement ceilings will also be high to make them as livable and functional as possible."
The main living area will feature an open-concept floor plan, with large windows to let in as much natural light as possible and offer a view of the natural environment surrounding the complex.
Kipnes said prospective buyers won't have to worry about haggling with sales people about upgrading interior finishes or amenities.
"Everything you'd expect to find in your home has been chosen for you, and there's no extra charge. Granite countertops and vanities, high-end laminate hardwoods, Kohler fixtures, stainless appliances, window coverings, air conditioning and ceramic tile foyers are all included, along with much more, including nine-foot ceilings. There won't be any compromises or worries," he said.
Newman, Greenberg and Associates' Barry Greenberg said Kraut and Kipnes, who have a proven track record with developments such as The Mosaic, Annex and River Heights bungalow condominium community Centennial Park, possess a trait that's often rare among condo developers.
"They listen to their customers," Greenberg said. "When you do that, you come out with a product that is just so easy for customers to accept because it has all the features they're looking for."
Perhaps the most important feature of Parc Okolita Park Condominiums will be how the rustic-looking bungalows, which will feature durable hardiboard exteriors, will be so seamlessly integrated with nature.
"Everyone will have a view of the (Dakota) forest, while some residents will actually have a wildlife corridor as their backyard," Kraut said. "Residents will have their own private deck, with some having fenced backyards. We didn't want to fence out nature; we wanted to bring it into play as much as possible."
Based on the success of Centennial Park -- it sold out in record time -- Kipnes said those interested in reserving a condo should act quickly.
"We expect the units to sell out quickly. These days, you can't find anything like this for under $300,000. And when you buy now, you can lock in your unit at pre-construction pricing," he said. "It's a great opportunity you don't want to miss."
To see what the condos at Parc Okolita Park are all about, head over to the complex's presentation centre (open Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-5 p.m. and Thursday 4-8 p.m.) at 1677 St. Mary's Rd. For more information, call Newman, Greenberg and Associates at 955-9898 or visit www.okolitacondos.com .
lewys@mts.net
