Bob Anderson, Marketing Director for Mission Group Properties, talks about the company’s new development in mid-town Kelowna.

Published in the Kelowna Capital News, Sunday July 11, 2010

Shauna Nyrose, Contributor

The homes at Dwell are a mix of 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes that start at $310,900 including net HST, all featuring rooftop sundecks.

We planned, designed and built Dwell entirely during the downturn in the economy.  When we looked at the market, there was obviously a significant over-supply of condos, which is still the case today. As a result, we asked ourselves a simple question. “What can we build here that is not a condo?” With that parameter in mind, we envisioned an urban style townhome community.  We also knew that we would have to offer homes at price points in the low $300s in order to compete with all the 2 bedroom condos on the market. With the price points and the general style in mind, we looked for ways to really make the community stand out.

At Dwell, the most prominent feature is that every home has an expansive rooftop sundeck ranging from 410 to 552 square feet.

This extra outdoor living space is something that most condos simply don’t offer.  With other benefits like having your own private entry off the garden courts, your own two-car garage with space to store bikes and all your gear, and no one living above or below you, Dwell offers a completely unique alternative to condo living.  It’s pretty common to hear “there’s nothing else like it”, but for Dwell that’s really the case. To our knowledge, the only other townhomes in Kelowna that have rooftop sundecks are at Mission Shores, which is a resort style waterfront community in a completely different price range.

In addition to the rooftop sundecks, the brownstone-inspired architecture and the orientation and pattern of the community are unique in Kelowna. Garden courts separate the homes in each phase, which creates a grid pattern that is reflective of the urban setting.

Anyone who is considering a condo should also see Dwell. This includes first time buyers, people who are moving out of a condo and are looking for more space, and also people who are downsizing from a house and want a more convenient lifestyle.

The homes in phase 1 are already complete, and most of the available homes include some upgrades, such as stainless steel appliances, hard wood laminate floor on the main level, tile in the ensuite bathrooms and granite countertops.

For future phases, the homes are completely customizable and buyers can request additional design changes, which we’re happy to investigate. In fact, one of the homes we have sold in phase 2, includes a number of significant design changes that we are able to accommodate.

Living in mid-town Kelowna, it’s all about convenience.

Kelowna is primarily growing at the edges and people see the benefits of living in a more central location. It obviously has to fit your lifestyle, but people want to be close to work, recreational amenities, entertainment and shopping. There is a desire to spend less time in the car, and lessen one’s environmental footprint.

Dwell, with its brownstone inspired architecture, is a great fit for the area, because it will add to the already charming street scape that is highlighted by an eclectic mix of character buildings that are home to doctors, dentists and small businesses.  With the mid-town location between Harvey and Springfield, Dwell is obviously close to many amenities. There are literally hundreds of stores, restaurants and businesses within a 5-minute walk. Choices Market and Save-On-Foods are less than a block away in either direction, which means you can always pick up something fresh for dinner. And if unexpected company stops by for an impromptu barbeque on the rooftop sundeck, Hammer’s Liquor Store and M&M Meats are only steps away.  If you’re looking for a little more activity, the Parkinson Recreation Centre and Mission Creek Greenway are nearby.

The development industry has changed alot in the last few years.

First, considering the Kelowna market, there’s so much standing inventory of condos that in order to sell anything you have to be able to show finished homes. At Dwell, we finished homes in phase 1 before we even offered them for sale. While we have managed to sell in phase 2, which is not yet complete, the buyers’ had confidence based on seeing the finished homes in phase 1.

Secondly, you really need to provide great value. This has always been true, but in a buyers’ market, where there is so much choice, it’s even more vital. There is no urgency for homebuyers, so they are going to take their time, and make sure they are getting the biggest bang for their buck.

While this is maybe a ‘new realty’ based on the past 5 to 10 years, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Real estate is cyclical, and if you want to have success over the long term, you always need to show value.

Mission Group was formed in 2003, as a partnership between four long time friends. The principals, Jon Friesen, Randy Shier, Gerald Heinrichs and George Summach, have all been in the building and development business for many years. Completed communities include Mission Shores, Verve and Amberhill in Kelowna, and Sage Townhomes and Ocean Bay Villas in the Lower Mainland. Mission Group is currently selling two remaining properties at the exclusive waterfront community of Sheerwater, and there are three contemporary living spaces still available at Mode in central Kelowna.

The Mission Group’s  Okanagan communities have won some pretty prestigious awards.

Our most recent Awards include Amberhill’s Gold Tommie Award for Excellence in a Townhome Community, and two Gold Tommie’s for Mode in Achievement in Environmental Consideration and Building Energy Efficiency. In addition to these, the awards that we take the most pride in were the two Tommie Awards we won in 2007 & 2009 for Outstanding Customer Service. While we like winning awards, the greatest reward is always a satisfied customer.

Kelowna is a great place to live, and that hasn’t changed with the recession. The climate and lifestyle is the best in Canada, and we think that Kelowna will continue to grow, especially considering Baby Boomers will continue to relocate here after they retire. We also think we can be the best comprehensive builder in the Okanagan. There are many good builders in the area, especially in single-family homes, but we bring years of experience and resources that we think are unmatched in the city. We’ve also been around long enough to know that our customers will be the final judge. We’ll only be successful if we keep building quality homes in unique communities that deliver exceptional value.

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The Dwell display homes are located at #2-1821 Ambrosi Road. We’re open Saturday to Wednesday noon to 5pm. For more information, contact the team at Nyrose & Associates.