Young buyers attracted to old feel
Mary Frances Hill
The Province
Prescott Commons
Where: 3323 151st Street, Surrey
What: 248 apartments – various one- and two-bedroom plans in a master-planned community with a total of 400 homes
Residence sizes and prices: Between 642 and 969 square feet. Two-bedroom plans start at $299,900
Developer and builder: Polygon Prescott Commons Ltd., Polygon Harvard Gardens Ltd.
Sales centre: 3323 151st Street, Surrey
Hours: noon — 6 p.m., Sat. — Thurs.
For hundreds of new homeowners, east coast ‘old school’ set in a contemporary west coast setting is a perfect fit.
At Harvard Gardens community in Surrey, a polished Ivy League aesthetic is bringing in a new population, with its two newest buildings, Prescott Commons’ condominiums.
The look of the community, which includes a Rowing club-like clubhouse, was inspired by Polygon’s architectural teams’ impressions during their travels to Boston.
The U-shaped buildings are fashioned of red brick and wrought-iron inspired accents in entry canopies, stained wood-panelled walls and stone flooring, and will contain 248 homes; Harvard Gardens will include a total of 400 homes.
And while the homes’ interiors are appealing, the amenities are just as attractive to Prescott Commons’ buyers.
In the gymnasium, homeowners can play basketball, badminton, floor hockey and indoor soccer. An outdoor pool is open from May to October. The community also offers space to relax: the two Prescott Commons buildings are separated by a central courtyard.
“Homeowners love the private courtyard, especially those on the ground floor who have patios with direct access. it’s like an extension of their home – their ‘backyard,’” says Polygon’s sales manager Judy Rohatyn.
The magnet at Prescott Commons has to be the Rowing Club, which has proven to be popular among homeowners already. “It’s been well used by residents who are making connections and using the great facilities,” says Rohatyn.
She says Prescott Commons has attracted buyers from diverse life stages—downsizers and first timers among them. Many of the latter will be launching this new stage of their lives with some welcome financial aid: “We’ve seen a number of parents helping their children get into the market.”
In the two display homes on site, Polygon’s design team added darker woods and grey accents to help give the interiors an established feel, relating to the East Coast concept.
The contemporary design extends into the bathrooms, where visitors can find engineered stone countertops and spa-like showers.
Gourmet kitchens include engineered stone countertops and modern flat-panelled cabinetry.
Rohatyn says that Polygon wasn’t surprised to see young buyers ready to own their first homes at Prescott Gardens.
“Often young first time buyers are savvy and do a lot of research online before heading out to see our display homes and communities,” she says.
“We often have young couples who have spent years renting downtown, now making their way back to South Surrey for affordability and lifestyle. They are always delighted to see that we offer modern homes that fit their ‘city style.’”
© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.