Silver Beach
Location: Haliburton
Builder/developer: Silver Beach Developments
Size: towns 1,300 to 2,800 square feet; singles 1,150 to 2,470 square feet
Price: towns $299,000 to $439,000; singles $339,000 to $559,000
Sales centre: 1827 Wigamog Rd. in Haliburton. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Phone 1-877-472-2082 or 1-877-451-1429 or visit www.silverbeachdevelopments.com
Gerry Kowalski is a long-time cottager who understands how the joys of owning one of the older lakeside cottages in the Haliburton Highlands can be diminished by the hassle and expense of maintaining and accessing them.
He says his new development, Silver Beach, will spare owners– including himself – from that experience with the construction of modern, carefree-free cottages within a gated, four-season community on Lake Kashagawigamog, just south of Pinestone Resort, Conference Centre and Golf Course.
"In cottage country, there's nothing else like it … that has the high quality of homes and the luxury features we put in them," says Mr. Kowalski, who lives in one of the homes in the project's first phase, along with 15 other owners.
"And our location is a total amenity community. We're one of the very few developments that has direct access to a golf course and direct access to the lake."
Residents can easily fish and boat in the lake, which is the main part of a five-lake chain, or hike and ski the trails.
"It's a total package for people who want to escape the city and settle into an active lifestyle in cottage country," says Mr. Kowalski. "Yet we're still only a two hour drive to Toronto, so you can still get to the urban areas."
Within a five minute drive, residents will find a thriving theatre, shops and restaurants in Haliburton, as well as a new hospital and Fleming College's Haliburton School of the Arts.
"Right from your doorstep here, you can boat in and park in the town and go to dinner or a show," says Mr. Kowalski.
The community itself will offer resort-like amenities, including a sandy beach, boat slips and a 5,000 square-foot clubhouse with a grand hall for large affairs, a games room, gym, sauna and massage room.
"We're not just selling houses, we're selling a whole community, a whole lifestyle and a whole area that you can live – either year-round or recreationally – and know that you've got all the services you'll ever need in a new, up-to-date environment," Mr. Kowalski states.
A monthly fee of $320 will cover the maintenance of these amenities, landscaping, and snow and garbage removal.
Buyers can chose from three completed homes in phase one or 12 townhouses and 28 bungalows with optional lofts in the second and final phase.
Architect Ian Malcolm designed these homes with Century Stone exteriors and wood siding to fit in with the natural surroundings, but will have urban conveniences, such as double garages, elevators and finished basements in some cases, as well as energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that cut over 30 percent of electricity costs.
"We're the only builder/developer in Ontario that uses hydronic heating with zone control, so every level of the home is independently controlled," says Mr. Kowalski.
Other highlights include nine-foot ceilings on the main floor and cathedral ceilings on the loft levels, in addition to a choice of two finishing packages, including one with hardwood floors, granite counters and stainless steel appliances.
"We've got a home model, style and price point to suit everyone's needs," adds Mr. Kowalski.
Bungalows will be ready in five months, and townhouses done by 2012.