Special Feature
In 2002, the provincial government passed the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, which set aside 1,900 square kilometers of mixed-wood forest across the north of the GTA. It was designed to protect the forest and the watershed beneath it, including the Kettle Lakes and Ponds.
Only those development projects that had already received zoning and planning approval were allowed to be completed; all other development is frozen.
That is why Aspen Ridge’s Kettle Lakes Club is such a special project. Over 400 modern townhomes will be built, nestled in the preserved Oak Ridges Moraine forest.
There will never be any other development around these homes, many of which will have a ravine or untouched forest as a back yard—it is simply against the law.
The project itself was nominated for an OHBA Project of the Year – Low-Rise.
Oak Ridges Community
The project is across the street from Wilcox Lake and the brand new community centre that sits at its shore.
Wilcox Lake itself is becoming a destination. Motorboats are forbidden, but sailboats, canoes, and kayaks are housed in a marina right across the street from the new townhomes, and the city views the lake as a valuable public asset.
“The city is spending lots of money creating pedestrian-friendly walkways and making sure the water stays clean,” said Jason Attard, vice president of sales & marketing for Aspen Ridge Homes.
According to Attard, Aspen Ridge patriarch Fred DeGasperis, a man well known for having foresight when it comes to land, bought the property before Bayview Avenue extended past 19th Ave. The DeGasperis family held the land for over 20 years, a relatively short time considering they had been building homes for over half a century.
The time is now ripe, in part because northern Richmond Hill is an up-and-coming area. Two new schools have recently been completed, with a third on the way, in close proximity to the project. The brand new Oak Ridges Community Centre across the street includes a large pool, a gym, conservation centre, and daycare.
Today’s residents are a five minute drive from Hwy 404 and 10 minutes from the Aurora GO Station. The VIVA blue bus stops nearby, getting you to Union Station in an hour and a half.
Modern design in a traditional community
What to build on such a special parcel of land, however, was still a tough question. “The genesis of Kettle Lakes Club started with people wanting more in terms of interior design,” said Attard.
People were looking for something modern, so the project was dubbed MOTO (short for Modern Townhomes). It certainly is on trend to put a modern twist on the townhome, but in a conservative community like Richmond Hill, ultra-modern would seem out of place.
Kettle Lakes’ “transitional” townhomes are modern but understated, taking cues from Richmond Hill’s traditional luxury homes and the ultra-modern community centre across the street in turn.
“For traditional housing in the 905 it’s a lot more forward thinking,” acknowledged Attard.
The project will consist of two-storey, freehold, townhomes with 20 and 25 foot widths. Though thirteen different models are available, they have built and furnished four model homes, each well worth a visit.
Though they haven’t been on sale long, the response has been positive. “We’re over 50 percent sold,” Attard said.
You may love the model homes, but buyers can get help customizing their home at Concorde, Aspen Ridge’s 10,000 sq. ft. design centre.
“Having a big décor centre helps first time home buyers. We take the guesswork out of it. We pick the products that we know work. They look good, are reasonable in terms of costs, and we’re going to stand by them,” Attard said .
Shovels are already in the ground and homes at Kettle Lakes Club will be delivered, starting early summer 2014, but the entire project will take five years to complete, including first and second phases.
Naturally it is cheaper to buy now. How much will the homes appreciate between now, when you buy in pre-construction, and when the homes are finished?
“I’d like to think the homes people paid $530,000-$570,000 for will be worth $600,000. If they paid $600,000-$650,000 they may be worth $670,000,” speculated Attard.
But it is not just a matter of the GTA market appreciating. The value in this project lies in the details—the forest surroundings, new community centre, and modern design features.
“Aside from it being trendy, it’ll be well built,” added Attard.
For more info visit: www.aspenridgehomes.com
