Orchard Park takes a location that's quiet, but connected

Article content

A useful measure of the quality of a product is whether those selling it to would buy it themselves. That’s absolutely the case when it comes to homes built by StreetSide Developments, according to Jennifer Wilson, the company’s sales administration manager.

“We’ve had employees purchase homes at all our developments,” Wilson said. “That’s something that really tells you a lot about us as a company. I own and live in one of our homes. Our vice-president has also bought one in the past, our director of development and our construction managers, as well. It shows the value of the company and the fact that we really believe in the homes that we build.”

Qualico, of which StreetSide Developments is a division, has been in business for more than 65 years, and is among the largest privately integrated real estate development company in Western Canada, according to Wilson. StreetSide Developments’ latest project is Orchard Park, an 80-unit townhome community in South Surrey. Once again, StreetSide employees are among the purchasers.

“The leaders of the company are very involved with our projects,” Wilson added. “Even though we are across Canada, they still come our and visit our developments, take tours of the sites and get to know all the staff members as well.”

Orchard Park townhomes have two or three bedrooms, range in size from 1,333 to 1,558 square feet and are priced from the low $600,000s. The homes are tucked in behind 26 Avenue, across the street from a row of single-family homes and right next to a park.

“It’s such an incredible location because even though you feel tucked away in a nice little enclave, you are so close to all those amenities at Morgan Crossing and Grandview Corners, as well as the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre,” Wilson said.

Morgan Crossing is an outdoor shopping mall offering a collection of independent retailers, fashion outlets, restaurants, and cafés. On the other side of 160 Street, Grandview Corners has a range of other retail outlets, eateries and services. Also nearby, the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a leisure pool, a water slide and weight room facilities.

The location has been attracting a diverse range of buyers, according to Wilson.

“Typically, our buyers have been up-sizers or what we like to call equity builders,” she said. “Many of them are engaged, recently married or have young children and they want to move from their condo or small townhouse into something bigger and newer that they can build their equity on. We’re also seeing empty nesters and downsizers.”

Holly Harrison, marketing and sales coordinator at StreetSide Developments, said that the company’s commitment to building vibrant communities is another thing that sets it apart and has helped to attract buyers to Orchard Park in particular.

“For example, we include amenity buildings and community spaces in our projects and we build them close to local shopping areas, parks, restaurants, gyms and schools,” she said. “Orchard Park is a prime example.”

“The amenity building at Orchard Park will be three storeys with lounge spaces, a kitchenette, a games room and a rooftop patio with a barbecue and communal space,” Harrison added. “It really is a stunning building with oversized windows and a large outdoor green space for people to gather and build that sense of community.”

All homes at Orchard Park have nine-foot ceilings on main and upper floors, powder rooms on the main floors and front-load washers and dryers. Kitchens include brushed nickel hardware and soft-close doors and drawers, polished quartz countertops and marble-style porcelain tile backsplashes. The stainless-steel appliance packages by Blomberg, Faber and Panasonic include 30-inch slide-in, four-burner gas ranges with baking drawers, slide-out hood fans with three-speed touch controls, counter-depth refrigerators with bottom drawer freezers, fingerprint-free stainless steel dishwashers and microwaves with trim kits.

“We have high-end appliances and luxury finishes throughout the homes,” Wilson said. “When you walk in, it’s that wow factor when you see how these homes are designed and the specifications we’ve used.”

Bathrooms have solid-slab thick polished quartz countertops, widespread double handle faucets and undermount sinks. There are oversized porcelain floor and wall tiles, two-piece elongated, dual flush toilets and soaker tubs in the main bathrooms. Ensuites feature frameless glass showers and porcelain tile surrounds, multifunction hand showers and his-and-hers raised counter sinks with wall-mounted faucets.

“What’s amazing is that already two of our homeowners at Orchard Park are repeat StreetSide buyers,” Wilson added. “It’s a smaller community than what we typically build with only 80 townhomes, but the way that it’s laid out offers a variety of different product types.”

The Orchard Park sales centre at 16650 25A Avenue is open from noon to 5 p.m. every day but Friday. The first homes will be ready for occupancy from the beginning of May 2020.

Orchard Park

Project location: 16650 25A Avenue, Surrey

Project size: 80 townhomes with two or three bedrooms ranging in size from 1,333 to 1,558 square feet and priced from the low $600,000s

Developer: StreetSide Developments

Architect: Taylor Kurtz – Architecture + Design Inc

Interior designer: Interior Design Lab

Sales centre: 16650 25A Avenue, Surrey

Sales centre hours: noon — 5 p.m., Sat — Thurs

Sales phone: 604-535-2221

Website: liveatorchardpark.com