Montreal Real Estate Blog » Construction

Stuck between rain and construction.

Deya Bautista — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:58:28 +0000

Photo by Deya Bautista.

I don’ usually write posts about the traffic, but in this particular day (today) it seems that anywhere you go, there is always some kind of construction on the streets and sidewalk that makes traffic unbearable.

The city has countless of renovation sites, just a couple of blocks away from one another. Roads are being blocked, detours signs are everywhere. And with that: traffic, frustration and more delays. Green lights takes forever to appear, and by the time you get close to the intersection, it has already turned red. Again.

If your job takes you on the road often, like mine does, we must not forget to pack up a little extra patience before we get into our cars. And today, apart from patience, we need an umbrella and warm clothes. We’re getting close to the official Summer Day, yet it doesn’t feel like it.

Posted By: Deya Bautista - Real Estate Broker working as part of the McGill Immobilier team. Specializing in high end condos in downtown and Old Montreal. For buying or selling contact Deya at: 514.917.7889 http://montrealrealestateblog.com/

Square Benny: Green Condo Development in NDG.

Deya Bautista — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:12 +0000

An Environmentally friendly construction.

Photo Source: McGill Immobilier

When we think about green, we imagine trees, open air and nature. The words green development will make us envision a home community surrounded by gardens and trees, but we also think about eco-friendly housing: energy efficiency, recovered (recycled} construction materials, and all this we thought to be the way that our future homes will be built.

The Square Benny Condo Community was created by a private developer named McGill Development, the same who created the 777 Gosford, Orleans and M9 in Old Montreal.

Located in NDG, the Square Benny consist on two small buildings; 3 to 4 floor high, surrounded with, you guessed it, a lot of green spaces. Something that not many new condo projects are doing now-days.

Unlike other mid-rise buildings, this project is made with a concrete structure, and with 8 inches of concrete slab in between each floor, the neighbours downstairs won’t hear you drop the spoon on the kitchen floor. Superb soundproofing.

Let’s talk about the heating and cooling system.

The first time I read the term “Hybrid Condos”, I thought: “What the heck? Another publicity stunt?”
Maybe some alien technology only available at this particular project. Then I heard: 55% of savings on your heating/cooling (energy) consumption. Now we’re talking…

The use of Geothermal System to cool and heat the condo units, promises an energy reduction from 55 to 60% if you’re using electric heating. Savings on my heating and cooling bills I can live with. Of course, if you’re heating with oil, then the savings are much more than that.

Back to the Hybrid Condo concept: The Geothermal system is used along with electrical baseboards for extra heating. Hence the term “Hybrid”. There, mystery solved.

We talked about the quality of construction, a heating system that saves money, an eco-friendly development and lots of green spaces. Also there are 30 different condo layouts to choose from. Check out the floor plans. No cookie-cutter models to get stuck with.

Garage, any one?

Something important to mention: All condos have an indoor garage space included in the price.
I don’t know about you, but I sure love NOT to shovel snow and defrost my car in the winter mornings. We all now that interior parking comes as an extra in most projects, and they’re not exactly cheap either.

Delivery Date: Summer 2009.

Location: 4100 Benny (corner of Monkland). ?If you are familiar with NDG, you know by now what’s available around: Restaurants, Boutiques and Cafes of the Monkland Village. Steps to Rue Sherbrooke and all it’s amenities. Access to highway, downtown takes 12 minutes to reach.

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 2pm – 7pm. Weekends: Noon – 5pm

Special Offers: “Free stainless steel appliances (value of $6,800) if you purchase between the 27,28 & 29 of December 2009″. See details here

Website: www.habiter.com

What’s coming up in the neighbourhood…
The NDG Sport Center – PDF Link
NDG Library

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The Mount Royal Cross gets a pricey make-over

Deya Bautista — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:15:20 +0000

Photo: HalfandHeart

According to CBC News, the Mount Royal cross will be turned off Friday – I’m guessing today- to have some renovations done:
Paint, change to polychromatic bulbs (funky, we like), the cost for this make over is expected to be $982,138. Not sure if this was a typo, maybe the meant $9,821.38. or maybe 98,000? Because the six figure total seems like an incredibly high price to pay for a change of bulbs and a fresh coat of paint, even if the cross is 31 meters long.

“Montreal’s landmark electric cross on Mount Royal will be turned off Friday to allow for renovations.
The 83-year-old cross will be repainted and outfitted with a new energy-efficient lighting system, which will include polychromatic bulbs to allow a greater variety of colours.
Makeover costs are expected to total $982,138, Plateau Mont Royal borough Mayor Helen Fotopoulos said.
The 31.4-metre cross was installed in 1924 and normally glows white, but turns purple as a sign of mourning when the pope dies.”

Makes you wonder…How much are they paying for those bulbs?

Builders and Land Developers facing challenges right now

Deya Bautista — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:02:16 +0000

With financial markets roiling, oil and gas prices gyrating and the extent of the fallout in the Canadian real estate market uncertain, many current and aspiring homeowners seem content to stand still and wait out the turmoil.

Home builders don’t have that option.

“This whole industry is a big ship and it doesn’t turn on a dime,” says Niall Haggart, vice-president at Daniels Corp.

Builders and land developers face a battalion of challenges right now: Spillover from the collapse of the U.S. housing market is starting to drag down real estate sales and prices in Canada but no one can predict how long or steep the slide will be.

In Ontario, the government’s official plan to curb urban sprawl is making land available for building scarce and therefore more expensive, developers complain.

At the same time, higher materials costs for builders are also pushing up the cost of even a modest townhouse in the suburbs out of the reach of first-time buyers.

Meanwhile, immigration brings potential new buyers into the housing market just as the looming retirement dates of baby boomers could lead to a wave of downsizing.

Builders buy land several years before they ever have a house or condominium unit ready for a buyer. Many are trying to adjust to the shifting landscape and predict where the market will be a few years out.

Read the complete article

Construction snooper update: ETS delivers before due date

Deya Bautista — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:13 +0000

Remember back in April when this building was still under development? They were aiming the grand opening for September this year. This picture was taken just this weekend. And here we have it: completed, delivered and already occupied.
Yes, miracles do happen! – Mind you, the construction crew must be happy to finally finish this rush-hour job.

The bonus: instead of opening a food court as previously advertised, they ended up locking a lease with a major grocery store. No Inter-Marché here. Go big or home.

And notice the sleek glass wall dividing the building. Very nice, indeed.
Not bad for a student housing!

Meanwhile, this guy across the street remains for sale. According to one of our readers, as he explained it in his comment, the owner is asking a bit too much for the piece of land:

“Well i can tell you why this piece of “prime land” is still for sale and neglected:
the owner – an old man who is in no rush to sell – asks $3,8 million for the building and the parking at back.
I inquired because the building itself interrests me and i had – notice the past tense here – i had a smooth idea to help bring some life in the area, but there is no way i can find 3.8 $M and expect to be profitable or even break even.
SO saddly this land will be bought by a huge contractor who will pop some souless commercial spaces at the bottom and put up as many condos as needed to be profitable on top.

My two cents :)

Ugo”

Celebrity Condo: 333 Sherbrooke East.

Deya Bautista — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:30:46 +0000

333 Sherbrooke St., East: a luxury condominium project designed to appeal to a clientele with an eye for quality and location.

In the heart of Montreal’s trendy Plateau neighbourhood, the development consists of 83 units in Phase I, 67 units in Phase II, and 30 townhouses linked to the property. The second phase of construction at 333 Sherbrooke St. East, was officially launched on April 1st 2008 by Richard Homburg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Homburg Invest Inc., the occupancy is set for autumn 2008. The $35 million second phase increases Homburg Invest’s total commitment to its Montreal portfolio to more than $1 billion over the past three years.

“Phase I is effectively sold out, and Phase II sales have surpassed the critical level needed to ensure the success of the project. Once completed, 333 Sherbrooke St. East will be a reference for luxury condominium living in downtown Montreal.” Mr. Homburg said.

To date, the project has attracted buyers from all over Europe, the United States and Canada.

“Location, location, location. Montreal is ideally situated as a major crossroads for European and North American trade and business,” Mr. Homburg continued. “Montreal possesses all the qualities of a major real estate market, from a large, well educated population to a solid transportation infrastructure to a growing economy supported by healthy activity in several key sectors, like aerospace, life sciences and information technology”

Source: NewsWire.ca

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St Laurent Blvd: Under the knife again.

Deya Bautista — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:48:25 +0000

Oh yes, once again Boulevard St. Laurent is going through major repairs. This time though, the city has put up a sign with the details of the work. Thanks, that helps a lot.

Not having enough repairs done last year, the digging up started once again, this time it’s Gaz Métro turn. The city intends to add a few “cosmetic changes” to the boulevard by enlarging the sidewalks (aren’t those sidewalks brand spanking-new?): addition of lamps and trees, insertion of historic indicators (if this continues, there will be no one who’d care to read them!), taxi stands, bus stops and even the installation of parking for bicycles on the sidewalk.(Uh?). The good news, the bicycle parking is already done, at least on this side of the street:

Expect nothing but dust, noise and traffic jams in Blvd St Laurent between Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal. Hopefully, the local merchants will not go out of business. One more year of construction hell, then (crossing fingers) back to normal. Unless, of course, someone else decides to install a baby-stroller path, or something similar to it.

Media Coverage [Montreal Gazette]:

Pain on the Main: Work plans raise a stink
How city hall is killing St. Laurent Blvd. – one construction barrier at a time

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