GULF ISLAND LIFE: 123 cottages built beside resort lodge
Jeani Read
Province
Is Saltspring Island, long famous for having been a Gulf Island hippie haven, finally selling out to a Whistler-style time-share resort mentality?
Looks like it may be, as plans for the toney Cottages at Saltspring Island Resort roll along, due to be unveiled this Friday at the Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe Street, second floor, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
But just as Saltspring resident types have always demonstrated a special, laid-back turn of mind, the cottages also have some unique elements that set them apart.
Situated on 14 hectares of waterfront on Saltspring’s Bullock Lake, the resort will consist of 123 strata Cottages and a full-service resort lodge.
New developments like Sidney’s Residences at the Pier and downtown Vancouver’s L’Hermitage are setting a local trend of incorporating hotel luxuries into daily life by building actual hotels into the developments and offering residents full access to their services.
In the same vein, the Cottages have access to their hotel amenities including a 120-seat restaurant, a spa, fitness facilities, conference rooms and reception hall, swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
An onsite vineyard and winery are also in the works.
With prices starting at $359,900 these promise to be creme de la creme type cabins, and the developers expect to lure both local and international buyers.
We’re not sure what the island’s artisan community will think of the new neighbours, but the artisans themselves, the organic farms, farmers market’s and gallery hops (through the island’s many galleries) are definitely among the selling points, as are the rest of the community services, easy island access and natural beauty.
And maybe it’s a match made in heaven after all.
The resort is the first one in Canada to be designated “Econeutral,” in accordance with United Nations guidelines.
The Cottages’ developers earned the title with a tradeoff: They planted trees in Manning Park, thereby offsetting the resort’s environmental impact.
This nifty balancing act, back in the day, may have been described as — groovy.
© The Vancouver Province 2005