There's no limit to the extent of amenities being offered with new developments these days. Everything from golf courses to gardens, pools to gyms, billiards rooms to private libraries. Some even come with their own concierge. But these add-ons don't come free and owners need to be sure they are buying into a development whose lifestyle suits their own, or they end up paying for features they don't use.
Developers include amenities as a way to stand out from their competition and create a community where convenience is built in. With homes becoming smaller, it is also a way to offer buyers larger spaces to entertain and be entertained. And now, whereas amenities used to be built during a project's final phase, a trend is emerging to add these earlier on.
"It makes sense to build amenities early," said Geoff Duyker, the senior vice president of marketing for MOSAIC Homes, which is currently developing the residential portion of the master-planned Fremont Riverfront District in Port Coquitlam. "As homebuilders, we recognize our homes are worth more, are more desirable, and sell faster when an owner can walk across the street the same day they move in and experience an amenity building."
MOSAIC conducts extensive research during its planning stages to determine what amenities customers in each market are looking for. In the case of Fremont, which will eventually feature 650 residences, that includes a 12,500-square-foot clubhouse with a pool, great room, gym, children's playroom, garden plots and access to a bike-share program all managed and maintained by a resident caretaker. The district also includes Fremont Village, a commercial and business centre being developed by the Onni Group. In Duyker's words, "It's a complete community where people can live, work and play."
At Tsawwassen Springs, a 32,000-square-foot clubhouse is currently under construction to serve the community and the owners of the 490 homes being built on site. The clubhouse will include a banquet room, restaurant and pub, gym, and an outdoor skating rink during the winter months. Tsawwassen Springs also includes an 18-hole golf course which opened in August 2012.
"For local people buying here, the amenities are important but it's more important for them to stay in Tsawwassen because of its sense of community," said Sarah Toigo, director of sales and marketing at Tsawwassen Springs. "Amenities are more important for buyers coming other parts of Metro Vancouver who are used to having these facilities nearby so they don't feel like they're giving up conveniences."
Toigo says out that Tsawwassen Springs owners will receive preferred pricing for amenities such as green fees and the fitness centre and that these user fees will keep the overall strata fees lower.
Despite the existence of plenty of public amenities in locations such as downtown Vancouver, developers there are also enticing homebuyers with the promise of lavish offerings. At the Tate Downtown, currently in pre-construction, owners will enter their homes via the over-height lobby or the carriage porch with a 12-foot waterfall. With a private library, a fireside lounge and concierge service, the developer's aim is to create a luxurious hotel-style ambience. The building will also include a fitness centre, yoga studio, social room, private dining room, chef's kitchen and large garden terrace.
"If you purchase a one-bedroom home, you can still entertain on a grand scale," said Matthew Karmal, Tate Downtown's sales manager. "You would just book the gourmet kitchen and dining area and get everything ready while your guests enjoy the private gardens."
Looking outside of Metro Vancouver, The Cottages on Lake Osoyoos is a new residential project by Van Maren Group of Companies in the south Okanagan. According to managing partner Eric Van Maren, The Cottages offer by far the largest amount of amenities compared with other new developments in the area. These include 1,800 feet of private waterfront, boat slips, 20 acres of green space with abundant walking trails and a clubhouse that has just opened in late July.
"Our amenities are about 95 per cent complete, which is at a very early stage of the overall development," said Van Maren. "The question kept coming up about when they would be finished so we accelerated our plans. We're selling mostly to retiring boomers who are coming from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver and need a place to connect with people. The clubhouse provides that. They spend time there socializing and getting to know their neighbours. And, they want pools when their kids come to visit."
Van Maren estimates that the amenities at The Cottages add $10,000 to $12,000 to the cost of a home there. "That's not a huge investment if this is your dream retirement home," he said. "Most people would consider it a good investment No doubt, there's a cost associated with maintaining these facilities. But I think it's a cost wealthy baby boomers would gladly pay."
Tsawwassen Springs golf course
Tate Porte Cochere
Osoyoos Pool
