Design-it-yourself condos

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This article was published 08/02/2016 (3564 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A second innovative new condominium development that’s based on a design/build concept imported from Germany will break ground this spring on Wellington Crescent.

The 12-unit development at 260 Wellington Cres. is based on a co-op-style, build-your-own-condo concept architectural intern Andre Silva learned a few years ago while interning in Berlin.

Under the concept, the condo buyers work directly with the designer and its development consultant/project manager — Silva of 2Architecture Inc. and Vitaly Ishin of Vishin Developments — in designing not only their own unit, but the complex itself.

For example, they have a say in what shared spaces will be included in the building. In this case, two common elements they opted for were a rooftop terrace and a second-floor patio.

They also have almost total say in the design of their own condo. That includes how big it will be, how it will be laid out, the number and size of the bedrooms and the types of finishes that will be used.

Winnipeg consulting engineer Roy McPhail said that was one of the main reasons he and his wife, Patricia Britton, purchased a 1,300-square-foot unit in the complex, which will stretch from Wellington Crescent to McMillan Avenue and will have units facing each street.

“As a consulting engineer for many years, I like to be involved,” he explained.

“And she (Patricia) really likes to pick out the finishes, and we both like having input on the layout.”

He said they looked at a number of condos before hearing about the 260 Wellington project.

“We knew that if we went into any other space… the first thing we would be doing is a significant renovation (of the space),” he said.

He said they also liked the location because it’s close to downtown, Osborne Village and Corydon Avenue.

And they’ve enjoyed working closely with Silva, Ishin and fellow condo buyers.

“We’ve come to know our neighbours so well already because we’ve worked with each other in deciding how to finance the thing and how to work with Vitaly and Andre. So that element of building community was also really important to both of us.”

This is the third such project Silva has worked on since his return from Germany. The other two were a seven-unit complex at 234 Wellington Cres. and a five-unit complex at 125 Cauchon St. in Osborne Village.

Because this project is bigger than the others, Silva said he and Vishin opted to proceed after pre-selling seven of the units, rather than waiting until 12 were sold.

Although the last five buyers will still have a big say in how their units are designed, they won’t have as much say as the first seven in how the overall complex is designed.

Eric Neumann, of Realty Executives First Choice, and Sean Kirady of Royal Lepage Dynamic Real Estate are the listing agents for the five remaining units. Both said they don’t expect to have any trouble finding buyers.

“We’re getting a good response,” said Kirady, who has already sold two units in the complex.

Neumann said the remaining units range in size from 709 square feet to 1,250 square feet and range in price from $224,900 to $394,900 if the buyers go with a package of standard finishes. If they upgrade to higher-end finishes, that’s extra.

Silva said those unit sizes aren’t cast in stone. If a buyer wants to combine two smaller units to create a larger one, that’s possible.

Neumann said there’s flexibility in terms of how each unit is designed.

“The whole idea is to design it custom to what you like. If you want more storage, if you want a bigger bedroom, or whatever. You can still design it however you want it.”

He and Kirady said most of the buyers are professionals, although they vary considerably in age.

While he really likes the concept, Kirady said you need an architect and developer who are willing to work with multiple buyers to make it work. He and Silva agreed it’s best suited to smaller projects with no more than 12 to 15 units.

“So I see them more as little niche projects. I don’t see them going large-scale,” Kirady said. “Otherwise it just gets too difficult. Too many cooks in the kitchen.”

Silva said he’d like to do one such project a year if the right property becomes available and if there is demand.

“But I don’t want to force it. When you force the thing, it becomes very taxing and stressful, and you’re always wondering if it’s going to go ahead or not.”

Although this is the first such project Vishin Developments has been involved in, Ishin said it may not be the last.

“Obviously, with a lot more people involved, there are some difficulties and unique challenges that you wouldn’t encounter with a typical condo development,” he said.

“But they’re fun challenges, and at the end of the day you work through them and come up with solutions that everybody is happy with. So I could see myself getting involved in a few more projects like this if the opportunity comes up.”

 

Know of any newsworthy or interesting trends or developments in the local office, retail or industrial real estate sectors? Let real estate reporter Murray McNeill know at the email address below, or at 204-697-7254.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca