Rendering of one of the home slated for construction at West Shore Beach Club, Orillia, Ont.
WEST SHORE BEACH CLUB
LOCATION: Orillia, Ont.
BUILDER/DEVELOPER West Shore Beach Club (Summerhill Homes) Ltd.
SIZE 1,001 to 2,580 square feet
PRICE $299,990 to over $600,000
SALES CENTRE: 9361 Highway 11 North at Grayshott Drive in Orillia. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays from noon to 5 p.m.
CONTACT: Phone 416-322-3300 or 1-855-WESTSHORE or visi westshorebeachclub.ca
In a beachfront development 15 minutes north of Orillia, West Shore Beach Club (Summerhill Homes) Ltd. devised an unconventional plan with an interior courtyard surrounded by glass walls to the front foyer, master bedroom, kitchen and great room.
Vice-president Frank Reiss is so excited by the design – which comes in one– or two-storey versions dubbed the Cove – that he says he can't wait to construct it for a buyer, even if that includes himself.
"The house is built around the courtyard, so you have a very private, wind-free and cozy environment you could use three seasons of the year. Or if you put up a Plexiglas skylight, you could use it four seasons a year," he says.
"It's visible from all four sides because it's glass, so we think that is definitely a unique design – I have not seen one like it – so we'd love to build one for somebody – or two or three."
Several of Mr. Reiss's colleagues also plan to reside in the master-planned project to be completed with 76 Muskoka boathouse-style residences on 33– and 40-foot lots, a parkette, treed boulevards, a recreation centre, gazebo, dock and natural 300-foot-long private beach on Lake Couchiching.
"There are two unique factors with our [site] that in combination makes it totally unique. One is that it is on a very sandy beach, which is hard to find … and the fact it is a fully gated community," says Mr. Reiss, whose affection for the project grew while tending a bonfire during the grand opening in May.
"The rest of the development is about 10 feet higher than the beach … so when you're down there it's just so private, quiet and beautiful, I thought, 'What a great place to spend my afternoon – or many afternoons and evenings.' "
Not only will buyers be able to enjoy their home's countryside setting in the township of Severn just five months after purchase, but also will make use of city services, such as water, sewer and gas.
"It's an infill site in a mature community, which makes it unique as well – it's not in the middle of nowhere," Mr. Reiss states. "The homes we are building are suitable for both those looking for a cottage lifestyle on the water, and for those looking for a primary residence with full services in an intimate community close to all amenities."
There are shops, restaurants and an opera house nearby in Orillia's historic downtown core, as well as popular haunts along Highway 11, such as Webers Hamburgers.
"From my office at Yonge and Sheppard, we're 75 minutes from the site, so it's a very easy drive, much closer than Muskoka or other areas further north," Mr. Reiss adds.
Purchasers will be given a one-year membership to SkyLife for a family of four to enjoy free golfing, skiing, dining and hotel accommodations in and around the region.
Plus, just beyond residents' private patios and rooftop decks, they will have access to a private clubhouse with canoe storage, meeting facilities, a fire pit, hot tub and rooftop terrace overlooking the sand and surf.
"It's really a fantastic facility for people who want to relax down at the beach and enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle," Mr. Reiss notes.
Two new model homes represent the collection of designs, complete with board-and-batten heritage siding, traditional fish-scale accents, wraparound porches and garages, as well as open kitchens and principal rooms with up to 15-foot ceilings.
"Each design, even if it's a two-storey or a loft [bungalow], will still live like a bungalow because the ground floor has a master bedroom … so you can have lots of grandchildren or visitors over and put them on the second floor," Mr. Reiss adds.
"[Furthermore], basically they all have a basement and are partially finished."
Monthly condo fees of $184 will cover snow removal, grounds maintenance and clubhouse operations.