Alan Jones is swimming against the tide in his newest project, a gated community of garden townhouses and condominium units in North Saanich aimed at the 50-plus set.
Where most new homes come as basic units with upgrades available at an added cost, Jones's take a different approach. High-end features that are usually optional are standard at The Meadows, located on the north edge of Sidney.
The Meadows does allow for downgrades that reduce the per-unit cost, but for the most part, buyers get the same quality of finishings as in the show suite.
"I'm a custom builder," says Jones, "so I tend to over-build. I thought, if granite looks good in our show suite, why not put it in every unit?"
Allow me to translate: When a builder says "over-build," he means he builds above code or standard design requirements. At The Meadows, that means where the design called for right-angled corners and standard window-well depths and window dimensions, Jones built in gracious curves, deeper sills and larger windows.
Jones might say he over-builds as a matter of habit, but Casey Edge, executive officer at the Victoria branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association, notes that the practice of presenting buy-down options rather than upgrades is not surprising, even though it is generally a rarity in the new home market.
"He's building for a knowledgeable market," says Edge.
"It's not their first home, not an entry level home and they are looking for a home they are going to retire in. They're cash customers and they're going to want quality construction," adds Edge.
Sidney is awash in high-end developments, including the Pier condominium/hotel, which is currently under construction.
While such tony developments have a high profile, Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Walker says that new home development in the area is extending its reach into other demographics.
"For a long time, Sidney has moved in the direction of serving the elderly, but developments for the younger generations are coming along with these high-end projects," says Walker. "The town continues to improve aesthetically. It's become an outdoor mall."
At the Meadows, Jones's built-in quality is more than skin-deep. The floors have the sturdy feel of concrete-slab construction, though the unit is actually built over a crawl space.
Where unit-to-unit walls meet, Jones installed sound-proof party walls. The engineer-certified building envelope includes a shell exterior, creating an air wall that allows the building to dry.
Gardening aficionados frustrated by water restrictions will find that the grass is greener at The Meadows. Jones is refurbishing an existing well to support landscape irrigation. Attractive rain-gardens are also being added for rainwater retention, a system that naturally cleans run-off before it drains into the storm sewer system.
"I sweat every detail," says Jones.
The exterior is fashioned in arts-and-crafts style, paired with massive, genuine-stone pier entrances. Inside, style abounds in euro-crystal glass-tile inserts in ceramic backsplashes, curved walls with crown moulding, granite counters, solid-core birch doors and airy nine-foot-high ceilings.
The location will appeal to those in the 50-plus set who enjoy travel. The airport and ferry terminal are only minutes away by car. The Meadows is bordered by parks and enjoys back-gate access to the trails at Blue Heron Park. Across the street is a second trail access to the waterfront Lillian Hoffer Park -- not to mention the 15-minute level stroll to Sidney's quaint, seaside urban core.
Mature buyers are flocking to the area as much for its flat, walker-friendly landscape as they are for its other attractions.
Noted local designer Kimberly Williams, whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest magazine, brings classic coastal couture into each unit with three theme packages that shift subtly in earth tones. The granite selection ranges from tropical brown -- a coffee-bean and coal-flecked stone -- to an amber and honey-speckled amarello gold.
The garden townhouses have cosy garden courtyards bordered with stone piers and Asian-inspired wood privacy fencing. Each unit's front entry will have paving-stone patios.
"It's almost like having two extra rooms," says Jones.
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INSIDE THE MEADOWS
Developer: Peninsula Properties
Builder: Alan Jones Construction, a gold-seal certified licensed residential builder.
What insiders know about Alan Jones: As a fourth-generation resident of the Saanich Peninsula and 30-year veteran of the construction industry, Jones enjoys the benefits of long-term sub-contractor relationships that yield a high standard of craftsmanship and reliability.
Architect: Philip Chang of Advanced Architecture
Interior design: Kimberly Williams of Kimberly Williams Interiors
Show suite furnishings: The House Dressing Store in Sidney
Home Warranty Provider: St. Paul's Guarantee Insurance Company
Community type: Fully gated adult community of 39 garden homes (attached) and 20 townhouse apartments in a three-storey complex.
Pricing: All-inclusive pricing from $234,000 to $550,000.
Title: Strata
Pets: Allowed up to 22 kg.
Unit sizes: From 780 sq. ft. with one-level, one-bedroom and den, up to 1,620 sq. ft. on two levels with two bedrooms plus den.
Community amenities: A guest suite that functions as an on-site hotel for residents' out-of-town guests (for a nominal housekeeping cost) and a fully equipped fitness studio.
In the car: Get to the Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria in 40 minutes; to the airport or Swartz Bay ferry terminal in under seven minutes; to Saanich Peninsula Hospital in 12 minutes; to Sidney's retail centre in five minutes, to Panorama Recreation Centre in 12 minutes.
To the ocean: Jones says you can be at the ocean in ".503 seconds flat." No need to drive -- just walk.
High-tech options: Entranceway cameras, on-wall LCD and plasma televisions.
Occupancy: Spring 2006 for first phase