Cedar Ridge 70 Seaview Drive Port Moody 28 three and four bedroom townhomes by Allaire Living and Headwater living
At Cedar Ridge, Port Moody location offers launch pad for outdoor enthusiasts
Michael Bernard
The Vancouver Sun
Cedar Ridge, Port Moody
Project location: 70 Seaview Drive, Port Moody
Project Scope: Twenty-eight three and four bedroom townhomes, ranging from 1,304 sq. ft. to 1,602 sq. ft. Forced air natural gas heating, roughed-in air conditioning, tankless hot water supply.
Price: Low $900,000s to $1.2 million
Developer: Allaire Living and Headwater Living
Architect: Integra Architecture Inc., Vancouver
Interior Design: i3 Design, Vancouver
Sales Centre: 1a – 555 Clarke Dr., Coquitlam, B.C.
Centre’s Hours: Daily 12 noon to 5 p.m. (closed Thursday and Friday)
Sales Phone: 604.720.5357
Website: www.liveatcedarridge.ca
Completion Date: Early 2020
Finding a niche in today’s highly competitive real estate market is no mean feat for today’s smaller size developer. But it’s a bonus when that developer finds that his housing product is fulfilling the needs of not one but two generations of homebuyers.
That’s the market sweet spot Marc Allaire has targeted in building Cedar Ridge, a collection of 28 three-storey three- and four- bedroom townhomes he is constructing in an area of Port Moody largely devoted previously to single-family homes.
“We are building for young families looking to upgrade from a condo who have built up some equity in the last three or four years,” said Allaire, who has worked 35 years in the industry, including the last 11 years with his own company, Allaire Living. “We are also looking at downsizers who want to sell their single-family home but remain in the area but aren’t necessarily ready for condo living and still want their own garage.”
He adds to that mix, executive couples who want their own home but don’t want a single-family house.
While there are lots of condominiums out there, there are relatively few three- or four- bedroom townhomes available in the market place, he said.
Cedar Ridge, located on a sloping area of land at Seaview Place, is rendered in a West Coast contemporary style by the Vancouver firm of Integra Architecture Inc. whose principal, Duane Siegrist, makes liberal use of light and mid-brown natural colours to complement the timber and rock details emblematic of that genre.
The project is separated into four buildings to break down the massing and allow for light corridors through the development, he said, noting in his project rationale it has an added benefit. “The project features a central, naturally landscaped outdoor amenity which promotes socialization between the residents, creating a larger sense of community.”
The firm chose residential design materials that have a homelike quality but in a modern rather than a traditional application, he said. The materials and design have a more modern appeal to buyers who appreciate the look is not a “replicated heritage.”
“The main design inspiration came from the large natural forest, and public park located just 300 metres east of our site,” he said, adding the look was successful. “Much of the public and the city authorities through the approval process were very happy with the design and how it fits into their neighbourhood.”
Cedar Ridge also has positioned itself a cut above other townhome complexes on a mechanical level, offering natural gas forced air heating through ducting—instead of more routine baseboard electrical heating, with an option to incorporate air conditioning as well. The developers also appealed to environmentally conscious buyers by making tankless hot-water a standard rather than an optional feature.
“Buyers are more knowledgeable today,” said Allaire. “They are taking a bit more time to decide and they are looking for features that are environmentally friendly, and looking at construction practices and materials that lower maintenance costs.”
“One thing we have seen is that the outdoor lifestyle is a big concern for people living in this area. They don’t want to worry about costs. They want minimum maintenance and time for their lives.”
Cedar Ridge is well located for this lifestyle, offering good access to transit (the West Coast Express and walking distance to the new Evergreen line) and a new nearby grocery store, and good schools and parks while being within a few minutes of the regional shopping centre at Lougheed Mall.
Inside the homes, the developer has focused on an open-concept design with a choice of two colour schemes: white raised-panel painted Shaker cabinets or woodgrain laminate flat-panel cabinets. All homes have nine-foot ceilings on the main level with seven-foot doors throughout.
There is wide plank laminate wood flooring throughout the main living areas including the kitchen and powder room, tile flooring in the bathrooms, and carpet on stairs, bedroom floors and upstairs hallways.
Quartz countertops are used in the kitchen with contemporary under-mount stainless steel sinks. KitchenAid stainless steel appliances are standard with a 30-inch gas slide-in range, and a 20-cubic foot Energy Star rated French door fridge with interior water dispenser. Rounding out the package is a high-temperature, ultra-quiet dishwasher and a Panasonic under-the-counter microwave. All homes come equipped with stacking Energy Star-rated Whirlpool washer and dryer.
Ensuite and bathroom cabinetry and vanities are matched with the kitchen materials. The shower-tub surrounds are tiled in the main bathroom while the ensuites have shower units and heated floors.
The homes have spacious exterior decks or patios and feature a natural gas barbecue outlet.
Steve Nickens, a financial consultant who is shepherding four daughters through universities, is one buyer who is happy with Cedar Ridge, especially with the pricing as he and his spouse look to downsize from a single-family eight-bedroom home in the Burnaby Edmonds area.
“The prices in Burnaby and Vancouver are just ridiculous for townhouses,” said Nickens. “And I didn’t want to go out to Surrey or Langley. This is a good area because I don’t have to go over a bridge.”
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