INSIDE: STOUFFVILLE/MARKHAM/UNIONVILLE
homes&C CoNDos T O D AY ’ S
NEW HOME BUYER’S GUIDE SErviNg TOrONTO & YOrk rEgiON APRIL 6 - APRIL 19, 2017
dIstRIbutIon: 225,500
BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE
with RAVINA See page 2 & 3
Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017 • 2
cover story
HISTORIC OLD MARKHAM VILLAGE THE PERFECT SETTING FOR RAVINA The historic Village of Markham provides unique surroundings for Ravina, Greystar Developments’ brand new condominium community. Location, location, location is one of the major reasons why Ravina is attracting enthusiastic interest. Designated a Heritage Conservation District, the section of Main Street north of Highway 7 is characterized by, artisan shops, spas, art studios and services
Transition to condo life made easy, in historic Markham Village housed in many of the area’s original buildings. Restaurants span the gamut from cafés to pubs and fine dining. The opportunity to own a new home here is rare. In keeping with the stringent guidelines of the Heritage Markham Committee, Ravina was designed to fit in seamlessly with the existing historic neighbourhood – and at an intimate 5 storeys with just 60 suites, the condominium is an attractively subtle addition to the streetscape.
There’s a lot to celebrate at Main Street Markham Village, and throughout the year, residents and visitors flock to the local farmers’ market, music festivals and the Santa Claus Parade. Ravina suite owners will be able to walk out their front entrance and be in the midst of things. Enhancing the appeal of this location is its proximity to transit. The ability to walk to the Markham GO Station makes it a breeze for residents to access downtown Toronto. They can also hop on a TTC bus right on Main Street that will take them to the Bloor subway line, or a VIVA transit bus on Highway 7. The pedestrian-friendly nature of Ravina’s location extends to natural areas such as conservation lands and green space. Scenic Robinson Creek lies west of the condominium, within walking distance. This waterway connects to the Rouge River, Rouge Valley Park and the Milne Dam Conservation Park. Among the walking paths and trails just to the north are the Tannery Pond Boardwalk, Cedar Valley Park and Springdale Park.
www.ravina
TO bOOK YOur AD, CAll YOur TODAY’s hOMes & CONDOs sAles TeAM: :
homes&C CoNDos
Shelley Thompson
T O D AY ’ S
YOUR NEW HOME BUYER’S GUIDE
sthompson@yrmg.com 416-500-5982
Publisher:
GeNerAl MANAGer:
905-853-8888 dana.robbins@metroland.com
905-853-8888 ssauve@metroland.com
Dana Robbins
Shaun Sauve
Monika Madden
mmadden@yrmg.com 905-717-0382
Members of B.I.L.D. BUILDING A GREATER GTA
ADVerTisiNG PubliCATiON/ sAles MANAGer: sPeCiAl FeATures eDiTOr:
Amanda Smug
Dorothea Helms
905-853-8888 asmug@metroland.com
905-852-9294 writer@wsws.ca
Building Industry and Land Development Association
Visit their website at: www.bildgta.ca
Today’s Homes & Condos and its advertisers are not responsible for errors made in advertisements or editorial. All prices are correct at press time, however, due to the lead time required to publish Today’s Homes & Condos, prices and other conditions may have changed. Please note prices and conditions are subject to change without notice.
3 • Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017
Beginning in price from just the mid $200,000s, suites range in size from a 323 studio design to a 1,206 square-foot, three-bedroom layout – so something for everyone. From open-concept areas to linear kitchens and balconies (all according to plan), the designs are carefully crafted to appeal to a variety of tastes and needs. Every suite is as functional as it is fabulous, and each comes with an underground parking space and a locker. Additional parking spaces and lockers are available for purchase. In addition, Ravina will feature uncommonly beautiful common areas including an exercise room, party room and rooftop barbecue patio with direct elevator access and gorgeous views to the east and west. From first-time buyers to professional couples, growing families and empty-nesters, Ravina offers a lifestyle par excellence. The Ravina Sales Office is now open at 48 Main Street North in Markham. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.; Friday closed. For more information, call 905-472-6088 or visit www.ravina.ca.
Move into condominium living in Markham in charming village surroundings. • • • •
Walk to the GO station Live adjacent to conservation area, a ravine & river Stroll to shops, services, eateries and events Enjoy the best of the past and the future in this outstanding location!
SALES CENTRE NOW OPEN Come and see for yourself. Visit Ravina’s showroom for detailed floorplans.
48 Main Street North Markham Just noth of Hwy 7 www.ravina.ca 905.472.6088
a.ca 905.472.6088
Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017 • 4
community profile
SPRINGTIME BLOSSOMS IN MARKHAM AND WHITCHURCH-STOUFVILLE Dorothea helms Connects people and ideas, and can be reached at writer@wsws.ca
T
he Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and the City of Markham are home to exciting new communities that offer in-demand new home locations. Both municipalities feature a variety of residential settings, from tranquil small towns to bustling urban centres and country surroundings. upcoming events in whitchurch-stoufville
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Residential hotspot Stouffville is home to a wealth of amenities, including a GO Station right on Main Street, along with restaurants and cafés, shops and boutiques, an art gallery and the fabulous Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park. In Memorial Park, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre features a pool , fitness centre and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library. Soon, residents and visitors will be flocking to the Downtown Stouffville Farmers’ Market for locally grown fresh produce, as well as items from artisans and a variety of businesses.
Residents live just 10 minutes from Markham and approximately half an hour from Pearson Airport. This beautiful Town features country properties, forests, kettle lakes, picturesque ravines, significant equestrian venues, century farms and homes, plus golf courses. There are parks and trails galore with sports courts and fields, playgrounds, splash pads, and a dog park. Joggers, cyclists and pedestrians make great use of Stouffville’s extensive trail network that connects to York Region’s large forested areas. The Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park is a multi-purpose event centre in Stouffville (Photo courtesy of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville)
Throughout the year, residents and visitors enjoy fun events – including the ever-popular Strawberry Festival in June. For more information about this vibrant municipality, visit www.townofws.ca. upcoming events in mArkhAm April 15 meet the easter Bunny Noon to 3 p.m., 132 Robinson Street (Markham Road 2 lights north of Highway 7) Bring the kids for treats and stickers (while quantities last) and a free picture with the Easter Bunny. April 22 markham celebrates earth month 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 169 Enterprise Boulevard Free City of Markham event – find out how to become more sustainable at this fair. Ride the Pride of Canada Carousel for free and complete a Passport for a chance to win. April 28 - 30 heintzman house 2017 spring Art show & sale 135 Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill (east of Yonge Street) Exciting annual event where you can browse more than 400 works by 40 of Canada’s premier artists in oils, acrylics, water colours and sculpture. Free admission. May 13 main street markham farmers’ market starts Runs every Saturday through October 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 132 Robinson Street (Main Street Markham North, 2 lights north of Highway 7) Freshness straight from the farm, including fruits, veggies, baked goods, preserves, flowers and more. Live entertainment starts at 10 a.m.
This year’s Whitchurch-Stouffville’s Strawberry Festival will take place in beautiful Memorial Park (Photo courtesy of Whitchurch-Stouffville Strawberry Festival)
Markham and Unionville
May 5-7 24th Annual lemonville group of Artists show and sale Lemonville Community Centre, 13453 McCowan Road A variety of original works of art by group members. Everyone welcome, no admission charge. Wheelchair accessible, light refreshments. LemonvilleGroupofArtists.com April 29 comedy murder mystery Dinner 6 to 10 p.m., Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre, 14732 Woodbine Avenue “Big Al’s Boitday – The Comedy Murder Mystery” It’s Big Al’s party – and something unexpected happens. Enjoy a delicious meal while solving the crime. Preregistration is required, and space is limited. Tickets $65 per person. Cash bar available. Email events@ townofws.ca to reserve your tickets. June 3 Doors open whitchurch-stoufville 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., various locations around Town. Free admission. Explore the heritage, culture and community. Participate in behind-the-scenes tours, activities and more. For details, visit www. doorsopenontario.on.ca/ws June 30 - July 2 strawberry festival whitchurch-stoufville memorial park “Made in Canada Music Party” featuring local bands covering the best of Canadian music, pancake breakfast, barbecue, Festival Market, food trucks, live entertainment, children’s activities, carnival, strawberry social and fireworks. The Blackboard Blues Band plays at 7pm and at dusk watch the biggest and best fireworks show. For a full schedule of events, visit strawberryfestival.ca
The award-winning City of Markham is Canada’s HighTech Capital, and is also internationally recognized for the high quality of life residents enjoy. One of the most exciting developments in the City is the ongoing building of Markham Centre. This new downtown core is home to parks, valley land, entertainment venues, eclectic restaurants, commercial buildings, an upcoming campus of York University – all within walking distance. Markham has earned national acclaim for its heritage and environmental accomplishments, and these two areas are splendid examples of this dedication. On Main Street in Markham Village, street lamps and interlocking brick sidewalks help to create a nostalgic shopping experience. Engulf yourself in a Victorian ambience in Unionville’s Main Street, where boutiques and tea rooms invite cosy interactions, and people can be seen skating and canoeing on Toogood Pond. In the Town of Markham, you will find some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most luxurious homes. New residents abound, from young professionals to growing families and empty-nesters. And fortunately, for those who want to own new homes and condominiums, many of the province’s finest builders are providing an intriguing assortment of low-rise and high-rise communities in amenity-rich locations. To find out more, visit www.markham.ca.
The Main Street Markham Farmers’ Market opens for the season on May 13! (Photo courtesy of the City of Markham)
5 • Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017
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Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017 • 6
BRACEBRIDGE
news from BILD
InnovatIve townhome forms offer consumers affordable new home optIons
Bryan Tuckey
ATTACHED BUNGALOWS
On The Shores Of The Scenic Muskoka River • 10 Home Designs to Choose Fr om • Bordering Annie Williams Park
300’s
Starting in the low $
OVER 50% SOLD (705) 645-5533 Register by email today at
info@waterwaysofmuskoka.ca
President of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD)
O
ne way the land development and home building industry is providing consumers with affordable new home options while complying with the Province’s intensification requirements is by building innovative forms of townhomes.
While back-to-back row housing is common in England, the concept is relatively new to the GTA. With some innovative rethinking of the Victoria-era housing form, several BILD members have brought backto-back and stacked townhomes to the market with great success.
In recent years, the industry has introduced many varieties of stacked and back-to-back townhomes across the GTA. With these forms of housing the industry is building gentle density and it is trying to meet the insatiable demand for groundrelated housing at an affordable price.
Menkes’ Dwell City Towns in Etobicoke, for example, offered back-to-back units of 1,000 square feet to over 1,600 square feet with starting prices from $300,000. The 196 open-concept units — boasting patios and rooftop decks — sold out quickly. At Queen’s Landing in East Gwillimbury, Minto is about to launch the second phase of back-to-back townhomes after phase one sold out in three hours.
Stacked towns are becoming very popular across the GTA. When one unit is stacked on top of another, residents have the advantage of a two-storey house-style layout with the added convenience of a condo. The lower unit typically has a patio or terrace, while the upper unit usually boasts a balcony or rooftop terrace. Back-to-back towns are different than regular row housing as the backs of each home touches the back of the house behind it.
These are just a few examples of the numerous gentle density developments that the our industry is building as we try and meet the housing needs of the GTA’s evergrowing population in our highly regulated new home market.
Both types of townhomes help increase choice for consumers whether they are families looking for space to grow, empty nesters who want a more relaxed lifestyle or first-time buyers looking for an alternative to a condo unit.
Prices Pric es and and speci cation cations subject to change without notice. E.& O.E. 2015.
waterwaysofmuskoka.ca
Innovative townhome developments are taking shape across the GTA in communities where a decade ago most all of the new development was detached homes. In places like Stouffville, townhouses now account for a significant proportion of the housing that is under development. For instance, BILD member Geranium offers a number of different townhome options in its Cardinal Point master-planned community. Prices for these units started in the mid $400,000s.
Bryan Tuckey is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. He can be found on Twitter (twitter.com/bildgta), Facebook (facebook.com/bildgta) and BILD’s official online blog (bildblogs.ca).
% ITS E 5EPOS
*
EIYVOUR D C E ON
RecoRd month foR condo sales as low-Rise inventoRy dRops to unpRecedented scaRcity
F
ebruary was a record breaking month for new condo apartment sales in the GTA, while the number of new low-rise homes available to buy reached unprecedented levels of scarcity, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) announced in March. Across the entire GTA, there were only 1,001 new low-rise homes available in builder inventories at the end of February, according to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new-home market intelligence. A decade ago there were 17,304 of these homes which include single-detached and semi-detached houses and townhomes. “February data demonstrates, quite clearly, that our housing supply crisis in the GTA is getting worse,” says BILD President and CEO Bryan Tuckey. “Our members are building to current provincial intensification policy and we are building less low-rise single-family housing and more high and mid-rise housing but consumer demand for low-rise homes has not dropped. “Today in the GTA we have a scarcity of single-family ground-related housing that is not just unprecedented – it is almost inconceivable,” says Tuckey. “As a result we are seeing record breaking condo sales and continued price growth.” At the end of February, there
were only 324 new detached homes available for purchase in builder inventories. In February 2007, there 12,064 such homes available to buyers. February saw available new detached homes reach a new record average price of $1,469,449, while the average price for all single-family ground-related product, which also includes semi-detached and townhomes, climbed to a new high of $1,081,013. According to Patricia Arsenault, Altus Group’s Executive Vice President of Research Consulting Services, the low inventory of available single family product is a key factor driving price increases and it is limiting choices for consumers. “If I were shopping for a single-family home ten years ago, I would have been able to choose from among 500 different sites and nearly 18,000 units,” she says. “Today, there are less than 100 projects with any available units to purchase, totalling only about 1,000 units. And I would have to act very quickly to get one of those”. In the GTA in February, there were more than twice as many new condo apartments sold than low-rise units. Altus Group recorded, 3,542 sales of condo apartments in stacked townhouses and mid and highrise buildings, and 1,541 sales of new detached and semi houses and low-rise townhomes.
IN
SPACIOUS NEW DESIGNS
Condo apartment sales in February were up 79 percent over the same period last year and more than double the tenyear average. The month’s condo apartment sales were driven by continued strong sales in Toronto (1,661 units) and a significant increase in 905 sales, which included 105 unit sales in Durham, 107 in Halton, 370 in Peel and 1,299 in York. Average prices for available new condo apartments in the GTA also set records in February. The average price of new condominium apartments in stacked townhouses and mid and high-rise buildings was $523,086, up from $507,511 in January. The average price per square foot reached an unprecedented $652, and the average unit size dropped to 802 square feet.
High Rise
Stouffville 7 storey building adjacent to conservation lands, 700 sq. ft. to 1,900 sq. ft. all with balconies or terraces A condominium with a variety of spacious and unique plans Residences starting from the
500’s
$
Inventory level for condo apartments continued to drop in February and reached a new low of 10,342 units. “While the February results point to a trend decades in the making, the severity of the monthly figures, is jarring,” says Bryan Tuckey. “As the current data demonstrates, legislative guidelines and planning policies have real impacts on real people. With significant declines in builder inventory and record prices (for both low and high-rise homes), the GTA housing market is in crisis and it is time for governments to work with us to address the problems.”
FEBRUARY NEw-HomE SALES BY mUNicipALiTY: Feb '17
REST
R TE
Low Rise
Total
Region
2017
2016
2015
2017
2016
2015
2017
2016
2015
Durham Halton Peel Toronto York GTA
105
39
23
310
452
200
415
491
223
107
48
136
536
398
185
643
446
321
370
92
53
191
486
469
561
578
522
1,661
1,039
1,112
41
41
55
1,702
1,080
1,167
1,299
765
193
463
507
555
1,762
1,272
748
3,542
1,983
1,517
1,514
1,884
1,464
5,083
3,867
3,447
VISIT OUR LUXURIOUS MODEL SUITE*
royalpinecondos.com Sales Office: 5402 Main St., Unit #7 Stouffville, Ontario, L4A 1H3 905-591-8600 hamptonplacecondo@gmail.com
STOUFFVILLE
Sales Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 1pm to 6pm Friday: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 12pm to 5pm
Source: AlTuS GrouP
With more than 1,450 members, is the voice of the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the Greater Toronto Area. BILD is proudly affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders’ Associations.
*See sales representative for details. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. E. & O.E. Rendering is artist’s concept.
7 • Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017
news from BILD
Today’s Homes York • Thursday April 06 to Wednesday April 19 2017 • 8
a vibrant address meets an extraordinary opportunity
coming soon Urban condominiums in the heart of Richmond Hill. Steps to GO Transit, VIVA, YRT, parks, schools, theatres and shopping. Great location, designer suites and outstanding amenities. Condos at Yonge & Highway 7. Register today at pembertongroup.com Exclusive Listing Brokerage, Circle M Realty Corporation, Brokerage. Brokers Protected. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Illustration is artist’s concept. E.&O.E.