Glendale Estates a perfect fit for Westwood
Bungalow and townhome condominiums set on former school grounds
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/05/2024 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Back in 1986, the Allard School at 130 Allard Ave. in Westwood was closed due to declining student enrolment.
Over the years, it was home to the Winnipeg Police Academy, and then the Winnipeg Police Museum, which was moved in 2016 to police headquarters in the downtown core.
Most recently, the school and surrounding site was used as a location for a horror movie, Cheer or Die — released in 2022.
Supplied images
The attached townhomes will be sharp looking, functional and come with upgraded finishes throughout.
Since that time, the school and five-acre site just sat there, gathering dust.
That was until June 2023, when the school and site were sold to Karma Development Corporation.
“Eight proposals were presented to the St. James School Division, and they liked our proposal,” says Myles Kraut, president of the Winnipeg-based company. “They felt it fit in best with the community, and so did the province, who ultimately approved the project.”
The concept behind Karma’s proposal was simple.
They would build low-impact housing — 43 bungalow condominiums and 26 townhome condominiums — that would be one to two storeys in height to be as unobtrusive as possible.
At the same time, the development would utilize existing infrastructure and have access to existing businesses and services.
“Not only will we by tying into existing utilities, sewers and roadways, but residents will also be able to access amenities like Safeway and the YMCA,” says Kraut. “At the same time, the city will be able to collect property taxes from 69 new homes. That means more revenue for the city.”
Bungalows will offer driveways, double garages and full basements.
Most importantly, local residents — particularly those looking to downsize from single family homes will be able to stay in the community they know and love.
“Residents — primarily empty nesters — will be able to age in place without having to move to another area of the city. They can stay in the same community they love and be close to friends and family.”
Kraut adds that each townhome and bungalow condominium will be very well-appointed.
“We don’t sell upgrades, everything will be included in the price of a townhome or bungalow, from appliances to air conditioning, to window coverings and even towel racks. All buyers will meet with an interior decorator at no cost to customize their home to their tastes so it will reflect their character.”
Then, there’s the quality that will go into making each home as quiet as possible.
“Because we know people will be coming from single family homes, we’ve made each unit as quiet as humanly possible,” he says. “There will be double walls with four inches of air space in between and four inches of insulation on either side. The walls will be separate, which will do an excellent job of mitigating vibration. Windows will be triple pane to reduce outside noise.”
Main living areas in the 1,477 sq. ft. bungalows will be bright, open and beautifully finished.
Essentially, everything found in a luxury home will come standard at Glendale Estates.
“There will be quartz countertops, Kohler fixtures, pot lights, stainless appliances, tile backsplashes and a variety of soft-close cabinets to choose from,” notes Kraut. “Garages will even come with a charging port for electric cars. Exteriors will be clad with acrylic stucco, Hardy board and brick.”
Not surprisingly, the response to the infill project has been strong,
“We’re really pleased with how things have gone so far. The city’s planning department was great to deal with, and, at this point in time, (the third week in May) we’ve already sold 70 per cent of phase one. We’ve opened up phase two now, demand has been so strong.”
He says the strong response can be attributed to one thing.
“There’s nothing like this in the area. The project shows that there’s a need for a development like this, and that’s a need that’s been here for a long time. The empty nesters that move here will be able to enjoy spacious, well-appointed homes with beautiful finishes and features such as garages, driveways, decks, and full basements.”
There will be no lack of space, light or style in the main living areas of the thoughtfully designed townhomes.
As for when buyers can take possession of their bungalow or townhome, Kraut says it’s still a way’s off.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, so we’re looking at a possession date of spring 2026. We’ve exceeded expectations with this project, and are excited that we will be meeting the needs of people in Westwood.”
lewys@mymts.net