Aurora Trails
Location Aurora, Ont.
Builders Fieldgate Homes, Arista Homes, Paradise Developments and Opus Homes
Developer TACC Developments
Size Townhouses from 1,571 square feet; detached from 2,470 square feet
Price Townhouses from $480,000s; detached homes from $730,000s
Sales centre Northeast corner of Mavrinac Boulevard and Wellington Street in Aurora. Open Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday by appointment; weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact Phone or visit auroratrails.com or fieldgatehomes.com
A low-rise development bounded by Marsh and Weslie creeks in Aurora will set aside more than 40 per cent of the area for green spaces.
Developed by TACC Developments, the master-planned community of Aurora Trails encompasses environmental protection areas, storm-water management ponds and a 16-kilometre trail system. There will also be several parks, including a five-acre recreation area with sports fields, ball courts, playgrounds, a splash pad and gazebo.
"The developer worked closely with the town of Aurora and the region to create quite a special piece of land," says Jim Andrews, director of sales and marketing for Fieldgate Homes, which is building the site's 550 homes alongside Arista Homes, Paradise Developments and Opus Homes. "Aurora Trails is part of one of the greenest communities."
A plantation of endangered butternut trees and a group of oaks will be another attraction in the project at the southwest corner of Leslie Street and St. John's Sideroad, 30 minutes north of Toronto.
"The street patterns, cul-de-sacs and different things being created all work with the views in mind from the different lots," he adds. "We have a number of our lots that are 43-feet [wide] backing onto beautiful, treed areas."
Mid-June marked the grand unveiling of freehold townhouses, semi and detached homes offered by all four builders.
"This is one of the last communities to be developed in Aurora," Mr. Andrews says. "It's safe to say as a group, there wouldn't be any other location in Aurora that would have the same amount, variety and choice."
He estimates each builder has about 20 plans with multiple exterior and interior variations. Fieldgate will offer townhouses on 20-foot lots and detached homes on 38- and 43-foot lots for phase one, which will begin occupancy in December, 2015.
"We want to create something special in every room if we can and make the home very livable," says Mr. Andrews, citing mudrooms off the garage and bathrooms and closets off the foyer. "We like to create options for people, so we'll do a standard plan, but we'll do an alternate plan."
For instance, a four-bedroom plan converts to a three-bedroom layout with a study or media space. "These days, depending on the size of the family, you need more than one TV to make everybody happy," Mr. Andrews states.
Some of Fieldgate's standard appointments will include contemporary Arts and Crafts façades, granite counters, gas fireplaces, oak staircases and nine-foot ceilings.
Each builder will also incorporate green features, from eco-friendly materials and landscaping to energy-efficient systems and water-conservation measures.
A local, century-old landmark, Coltham Farm House, will be refurbished for residents' use and relocated to the site, which will also house a convenience store and services.
In addition, established restaurants, shops, schools, golf courses, GO Transit and major highways are nearby.