Document

Past and present come full circle at McGregor, an Amacon project taking shape in the South Burnaby Slopes area ›› p.4

61 FRESH APARTMENT HOMES STARTING FROM $119,900!

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August 26, 2010

TRICIA LESLIE

Making the move into a new home in a different neighbourhood can be difficult.

That’s why homeowners who are planning such a move should do their homework first and – as local experts will confirm – today’s

homebuyers do educate themselves before purchasing a home, thanks in large part to myriad online resources.

Local homeowners Leagh and Linda Shermann did just that – they conducted plenty of research, online and in-person, and mulled long and hard before they decided to move from an old, established Langley neighbourhood to a new home in Morning-star Homes’ Saddle Creek in Cloverdale.

Giving up the old home meant moving away from a house that generated countless

poignant family memories over the years, but for the Shermanns, the decision was helped along by the fact the old home would need several repairs, mainly elective, to be mod-ernized and functional.

Now, after living in their brand-new home for about six months, the Shermanns don’t regret a thing.

“Buying a new home was the best thing we ever did,” says Leagh.

Moving to a new ’hoodLeaving a beloved neighbourhood behind can be tough, but the new community may be even better

TRICIA LESLIE

The petition to get rid of the Harmo-nized Sales Tax in B.C. is valid and should proceed to the legislature, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Bauman ruled last Friday.

The ruling was music to former premier Bill Vander Zalm’s ears.

Vander Zalm, who headed the citizen’s initiative, delivered a petition bearing more than 700,000 signatures of British Colum-bians who oppose the HST to Victoria at the end of June.

“It was very good news. We were very happy with the outcome,” Vander Zalm said of the judge’s decision, and noted Bau-

man “made a great deal about the democracy” of the initiative.

Bauman quoted Pre-mier Gordon Campbell’s description of the petition as a “victory for democra-cy” that can be dealt with by the legislature.

It’s the first successful citizen initiative in the 20-year history of B.C.’s Recall and Initiative Act, gathering support of at least 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province’s 85 constitu-encies.

A group of B.C. businesses launched the court action in an attempt to stop the anti-HST petition and draft legislation that is aimed at rolling back the 12 per cent tax, which merges the federal GST with the provincial sales tax.

The business coalition argued the prov-ince doesn’t have the authority to repeal a federal tax.

But Bauman disagreed and said it was not necessary for the draft bill to be a perfect piece of legislation to proceed, and

HST petition heading to legislature

When relocating to a new neighbourhood, it’s wise

for homebuyers to conduct plenty of research, and to

pose lots of questions to real estate professionals,

says Joan Hansen of the Joan Hansen Team. She

has been selling real estate in Metro Vancouver since

1980. Martin Knowles photoBill Vander Zalm

CONTINUED ON P.2

Won’t you be my neighbour?

CONTINUED ON P.2

2 • New Local Home | August 26, 2010

Publisher: Fiona Harris • 604-575-5822 • [email protected]: Tricia Leslie • 604-575-5346 • [email protected]: Maggie Calloway • [email protected] Advertising Sales: Black Press National Sales • Adrian Saunders • 604-575-5812 • [email protected] Advertising: 604-575-5822Designer: Brad Smith • [email protected]

New Local Home is published once a week by Black Press Group Ltd. (Suite 309 - 5460 152 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9) 350,000 copies are distributed free across Metro Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

it would be the job of the legislature to decide on the final version.

His ruling noted that there are legal questions about the petition to remove the tax, which is based on a five-year agreement between the federal and provincial governments that has been authorized by the House of Commons.

“Whether any final piece of legislation resulting from this exercise can pass constitutional muster, is a question for another day and separate proceedings,” Bauman wrote.

Provincial law now requires the petition be forwarded to a standing committee of the legislature, which has to meet within 30 days of receiving it. The committee has 90 days after that

to decide whether to forward the bill to the legislature or refer to a province-wide referendum.

“I’m hoping they’ll decide to smarten up and get rid of the HST,” Vander Zalm says.

Dropping home sales and starts across the country and rising inflation have been blamed on the July 1 introduction of the HST in B.C. and Ontario.

And that’s “probably going to get worse,” Vander Zalm says.

Because the HST is added to the sale of new homes over $525,000 (homes below this threshold will bear no more tax than under the former PST system; homes priced higher will receive a flat rebate of $26,250, according to the gov-ernment), and because people may find the underground cash economy more attractive than paying extra taxes, he says the HST will hurt the homebuilding industry.

“It’s going to hurt the homebuilding industry in particular, no doubt about that,” Vander Zalm says.

“The underground cash economy will grow enormously ... it happened in Eu-rope. It happens everywhere you bring in a tax like this.”

The standing committee that will make the decision regarding the anti-HST petition has appointees from both parties, but has never formally met. The convener and possible chair is Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake; the B.C. Liberal majority includes MLAs Eric Foster (Vernon-Monashee), David Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead), Rich-ard Lee (Burnaby North), Pat Pimm (Peace River North) and John Slater (Boundary-Similkameen).

NDP MLAs on the committee are Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam), Katrine Conroy (Kootenay West), Rob Fleming (Victoria-Swan Lake) and Jenny Kwan (Vancouver-Mount Pleas-ant). – with files from Black Press

“You want to celebrate every day ... (when we came back from vacation), the new-house smell was still here).”

“I still pinch myself,” Linda agrees.

“If you can (purchase a home) new, do it,” she says.

The researching and planning count. The Shermanns looked into everything, including the builder’s reputation, planned future development in the area, and the neighbourhood, before making their final decision.

Joan Hansen of the Joan Hansen Team has been selling real estate in Metro Vancouver communities since 1980, and says homebuyers planning to switch neighbourhoods should look for communities that fit their lifestyle, their commute to work, schools and community amenities.

“Most homeowners have a good idea of what’s important to them,” Hansen says, and notes demograph-ics can be important as well.

A young family moving into an area with primarily retired

homeowners may find it can be difficult with young children,

where a retiree-aged couple may not want to move into

a neighbourhood where street hockey and shoot-ing hoops is common, Hansen notes.

“A senior may not en-joy coming home to this,

but a family will enjoy the safety of the kids visible

from the front room,” she says.Homebuyers should also always

ask about future planning in the area; future infrastructure and other future development may have an impact on their decision now, Hansen says.

Real estate professionals are always available to answer any unanswered queries, Hansen says, but she and ParkLane Homes marketing manager Yosh Kasa-hara agree today’s homebuyers are well-equipped when researching a prospective community.

“People are asking us questions

like, ‘What’s within walking dis-tance?’ or ‘Will I have to get in my car to get a coffee or go shopping, or will I be able to walk with my family?’” Kasahara says.

“Our buyers often tell us that the reason they are buying a ParkLane home is that they are looking to upgrade their location. In other words, they want a better home in a better community.”

Kasahara also stresses that the reputation of the builder is key.

Leagh and Linda couldn’t agree more.

They liked what they heard and saw about Morningstar, and, now that they’re settled in their new home, they like it even more.

“We’re very happy with the house. We love the construction. Morningstar builds well,” Leagh says.

Linda agrees, and notes that it’s nice to move into a neighbour-hood where every home is well-built and new.

They’ve been enjoying the home and the neighbourhood, and especially, the backyard, where the patio awaits entertaining, and the garden landscaping features rocks Leagh personally dug out from the excavation piles of new homes going up in Saddle Creek.

And they really enjoy the new location.

“I love the new location even more ... everything is so close,” Linda says, referring to shopping, amenities and work-related travel.

“We’re actually closer to work,” Leagh says. “It’s been a really posi-tive move.”

‘We were very happy with the outcome’CONTINUED FROM P.1

Former premier Bill Vander Zalm with some of the 700,000 anti-HST petition signatures. Black Press photo

“I’m hoping they’ll smarten up and get rid of the HST.”

Locals are always using the riverside trails at ParkLane’s Bedford Landing in Fort Langley.

“It’s been a reallypositive move”Off the front: “You want to celebrate every day.” – Leagh Shermann CONTINUED FROM P.1

Linda and Leagh Shermann, in the backyard of their new Saddle Creek home, have really enjoyed their moving experience. Tricia Leslie photo

New is Good

New Local Home | August 26, 2010 • 3


Modern convenience, historical past

A nanny plays croquet with her young charge on the sprawling green lawns behind the house.

Later, tennis, lawn bowling and badminton are planned, and perhaps, a picnic in the garden.

The orchard is thick with trees heavily laden with fruit and inside the huge barn, horses, ponies and other animals rest and wait for the next outing.

This was the idyllic lifestyle embraced by Duncan McGregor and his family – wife, Margaret and son, Douglas – back in the early 1900s, in what is now Burnaby’s South Slope neighbourhood. They lived in a huge, Edwardian-style country estate built in 1902, which McGregor named Glen-Lyon after his Scottish birthplace.

McGregor eventually served as a municipal councillor in Burnaby before being elected reeve (mayor) of the city in 1913.

While the property and its use changed hands over the years – from a logging camp in the 1800s to the mini-mum-security New Haven Correctional Centre – past and present will come together with Amacon’s new McGregor development.

The residential aspect of the project takes up about half of the 60-acre site, between Marine Way and Marine Drive; a business park that fronts onto Marine Drive will take up the other half.

Hearkening back to the past, the development will feature 96 homes in total, situated on 12 acres of park-like green space on South Burnaby Slopes.

A community of 90 townhomes is planned, designed in a blend of tradi-tional style mixed with a West Coast modern vibe.

At the heart of McGregor, the old Duncan McGregor mansion – a heritage-designated building known as McGregor House – will be home to four residences, along with a community amenity space that will include a meet-ing room, games room and a library.

The property also features a heritage gambrel-roofed barn, the only remain-ing structure of its kind in Burnaby; this will be transformed to house two duplex homes.

“(The homes) are definitely heritage-inspired, starting with the colours,” says Amacon sales and marketing manager Nic Jensen.

The homes will feature rich, bold exterior colours, including forest green, dark slate blue and brick red, accented by white trim.

Slated for completion by August 2011, the townhomes are all three-and four-bedroom plans; the first phase features all four-bedroom townhomes, all 1,625 square feet, Jensen says.

“It’s a good amount of space,” he says, and notes that despite its proximity to daily necessities, McGregor still feels like a rural retreat.

“It’s just so central ... yet you’re sur-rounded by green space.”

McGregor is close to shopping – Metrotown included – and other com-munity amenities; it is just minutes to several major transportation routes, and there’s access to public transportation, via a bus route, right outside the front

Amacon sales and marketing manager Nic Jensen, left, and Rob Vrooman, manager of development, with a model of McGregor. Mario Bartel/Black Press

A community of 90 heritage-inspired townhomes is planned for Burnaby’s South Slopes neighbourhood: Amacon’s McGregor. At the heart of the development, the old Duncan McGregor mansion (see model above) will become home to four residences plus community amenity space.

Come home to McGregor

CONTINUED ON P.5


This image is an artists’ representation only. This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering can only be made with a disclosure statement. E.& O.E.

R E G I S T E R N O W 6 0 4 . 5 3 1 . 9 0 3 0 W W W. AV R A L I V I N G . C O M

Can small town values and big city amenities coexist?

Start with quality highrise residences located in the heart of the thriving

town centre. Add ocean views, amenity-rich shopping promenade of

Johnston Road, and top ranked local schools. Of course it can.

AV R A . I N T I M AT E & L I VA B L E . W H I T E R O C K .

A creek runs through it...

door, says Jensen.But there are also kilometres of

trails perfect for walking, jogging or cycling throughout the extensive, 12-acre site, and the remaining 16 acres on the northeastern side of the site will be donated to the city for use as parkland, he adds.

A winding creek and a central pond invite exploring, while a community garden will allow green thumbs to grow.

McGregor also neighbours onto the Riverway Sports Complex, which offers several sports playing fields and a lacrosse box, among other amenities.

The low-density project means there will be about 5,500 sq. ft. of green space for each home – more than many find with a single-family home, Jensen notes.

All the homes have decks and patios to enjoy the outdoors at home, while inside, modern style reigns with contemporary, high-end finishings.

Luxury features such as stone

Central locale, lots of green spaceCONTINUED FROM P.4

CONTINUED ON P.6 History has inspired the construction of McGregor’s Amacon, especially the rich, bold exterior colours.


New meets old in Burnaby

A Playgroundfor Everyone

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countertops with matching stone backsplashes, premium stainless-steel appliances, engineered hardwood flooring, large porce-lain tiles and chrome faucets give a clean, elegant finishing touch to the homes.

While the exteriors pay homage to history, interiors are definitely modern and offer all the latest conveniences.

“We feel we’ve exceeded (expectations on) the level of finishing,” Jensen says.

“Everything’s included, even the washer and dryer. It’s a great price point and a great starter home for young families.”

McGregor homes are attract-ing buyers from throughout Metro Vancouver, from families in the valley who want a more central location, to downtown homeowners who desire more space, says Jensen.

Homes released in the first phase start from $539,000.

Visit www.mcgregorliving.com and www.amacon.com for more information.

– with files from Black Press

‘It’s a great price point’ at McGregorCONTINUED FROM P.5

Inside McGregor, modern convenience reigns. Kitchens feature stone countertops with matching stone backsplashes and stainless steel appliances.


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North Vancouver

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South SurreyWhite Rock

➜

SquamishSkye-Soleil-Aqua

Presentation Centre, Unit 3, 1233 Main St.,Squamish. 604-616-1215

Furry Creek-Ocean Crest415- Furry Creek Dr. 604-787-1456

North Vancouver Wedgewood

768 Orwell St. 604-980-2508The Kimpton

210 W. 13th St. 604-988-3020

Vancouver The Mark

1035 Seymour St. 604-687-4353Pacific Spirit

UBC Westbrook Village. 604-221-8878 604-264-6477

James289 W. 2nd Avenue. 604-275-1000

Spice on RobsonNicola and Robson streets. 604-683-5555

BurnabyJewel II

6130 Wilson Avenue at Beresford. 604-456-0688Motif at Citi

4400 Buchanon St. 604-298-8800Adera - Green

7438 Byrnepark Walk. 604-439-8858Perspectives

4710 Lougheed Hwy. 604-294-4995

CoquitlamLevo

Pinetree Way & Northern Ave. 604-464-5856The Foothills

Burke Mountain, 3381 David Ave. 604-944-3188

Tatton1240 Holtby, Coquitlam. 604-552-2220

Larkin House (East)1456 Avondale St. 604-461-7113

Belmont1456 Avondale St. 604-461-7113

Sterling3412 Wilkie Ave.

Larkin House1131 Pipeline Road. 604-552-1113

Port CoquitlamPearl

2343 Atkins Ave. 604-308-0227The Shaughnessy (on Lions Park)

2950 Glen Dr. 604-461-2750

RichmondRiver Green

5111 Hollybridge Way. 604-233-2633Mezzo

7373 Turnill St. 604-725-1250Emerald

7180 No. 3 Rd. 604-244-8333Hamilton Station

22788 Westminster Hwy. 604-279-8866Wishing Tree

Alexander Gardens. 604-871-4296Cambridge Park

9191 Odlin Rd. 778-297-7511Saffron

180-8360 Granville Ave. 604-270-2482

South Surrey-White RockHighland Park

160th & 24 Ave. 604-542-8995Glenmore at Morgan Heights

161A St. & 24 Ave. 604-542-8863Wills Creek

160th & 32 Ave. 604-542-6200Kaleden

2729-158 Street. 604-541-4246

Morgan Heights26th Ave & 164th St. 604-531-1111, 604-420-4200

Cathedral Grove2738-158th Street. 604-541-7383

SouthPort3677-143 St. 604-292-0871

High Street402-2950 King George Hwy. 604-536-9333

Summerfield109-172A St. 604-536-1155

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows

Brighton at Silver Ridge13851 232 St. 604-270-1889

Duet22977 116 Ave. 604-453-4962

Main Stone Creek10116-241 St. 604-463-5000

New WestminsterVictoria Hill

McBride Ave. 604-523-0733Inter-Urban

Begbie and /columbia St. 604-523-0081Port Royal

Holy Ave. and Salter St. 604-520-9890

DeltaTrend

7445 Scott Road. 604-590-5483South Pointe (at Sunstone)

10527 Modesto Place. 604-584-2908Atria

120 St. and 75A Ave. 604-453-6666

LangleyBedford Landing

23015 Billy Brown Road. 604-888-2176Seasons & Prelude at Milner Heights

208th St & 72nd Ave. 604-539-9484Time at Walnut Grove

9525-204 Street. 604-694-1819

Cornerstone5655 210A Street. 604-534-6000

High Point Equestrian Estates20048 2nd Ave. 604-531-1111

SurreyAugusta Walk / Woods at Provinceton

18199 70th Ave, 778-571-1088Hazelwood Estates

7881 164A Street. 604-657-5220Knoll

7348 192A Street, Surrey. 604-574-0001Quattro

114-10768 Whalley Blvd. 604-581-8000Ultra

105-13339 102 Ave. 604-588-6999Taylor

1-8767162 St. 604-584-1114

On Tour

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