Have you seen the behemoth of an apartment building that Cardel is building in Orleans’ newest and ever-growing neighbourhood of Notting Hill? They are nearly complete the 1st phase of the apartments, and the release of the showrooms is just around the corner!
The building has slightly over 40 units, range from 625 s.f. to just under 1,000 s.f., include six appliances, underground heated parking, elevators and storage – not to mention Cardel’s trademark rich and luxurious styles and finishes throughout. The condos start at just under $200,000, and the largest units on the top floor can be purchased for just under $300,000.
Now I’ve had the opportunity to step inside the building before the showrooms were launched, and I took some great pictures that I will share with you! I’ve got to say – their layouts are incredibly functional. They have wide open floor plans, master bedrooms with large walk in closets and ensuite washrooms, 2nd bedrooms on the other side of the apartment for privacy, beautiful kitchens conventiently tucked away in the corners with oversized islands for entertaining, formal entrances and the two larger models even have a defined dining space.
I must admit, having an apartment building in the centre of townhomes, which are themselves surrounded by singles, does seem a bit odd; not to mention the sheer size of the building makes it stand out. After some good consideration however, the building is really a blessing to Orleans and to Notting Hill alike. Let me explain.
There are a few apartment buildings in Orleans – the Brigil complexes at Briargate (Trim and Innes), and some very old buildings down on Jeanne D’Arc near St.Matt’s (note: Terrace homes, while mistaken for apartment buildings, are not. These are what we see in Avalon and Convent Glen). Every apartment building so far has seem to pose certain challenges that become the next developer’s strong suit. For example – the building near St.Matts is a quite practical concept, however it is buried right smack dab in the middle of the suburb. Having so much density at the heart of a suburb somewhat congests everything. Enter Briargate – Brigils endeavor to introduce an apartment complex to Orleans, this time being situated right off Trim Rd (transportation and congestion solved!). This development caught on quite fast, however some people have remarked that it is still not quite perfect – the lack of elevators being the main disadvantage, with others commenting on the commercial neighbours and high traffic making the complex seem a little more like a piece of downtown than they had bargained for. Finally, parking outside, and having to bring groceries up trip after trip, in Canadian weather mind you, can be tiresome.
Now let’s look at the Cardel apartments. Larger building, newer building, rich finishes – so the quality is clearly there. But look at the location – still off of Trim Rd (Pinnacle then Fieldfair to be exact, but about 20m from Trim Rd.), and is gently set back into the suburb and separated from the main road by a single row of towns. This allows for the building to have as little impact on traffic congestion as possible, gives the residents of the building fantastic access to the highway, and all the while helps them feel less ‘industrialized’ if you will. They get their own piece of the suburb, without infringing on the lifestyles of those around them that want to enjoy a little elbow room. As for the elevators – leave it up to Cardel to install them from the top floor, all the way down to the underground heated parking and to have storage lockers directly in front of the parking spots as well.
Having this building in the mix with townhomes and singles allows for a great diversity of lifestyles, allowing the young couples to mix with their single friends, empty nesters, and relatives with large and growing families. Throw in some MASSIVE road improvements (Trim expansion, Brian Coburn rd aka Blackburn Bypass, roundabouts and OC Transpo plans at Millenium park n ride), you have a recipe for a functional and vibrant community that will be taking care of families for decades. Did I mention that Bradley’s and Lavergne’s Western Beef are just around the corner?
If you would like to view the Cardel apartments, give me a call at (613)868-4383, or email me at marcevans@remax.net, and let’s get out to see them!
Post Script: I forgot to mention – they are building an identical building beside the existing one, and prices WILL go up!
The Evans Real Estate Group Blog 