Happy Holidays from Options!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Options!

Wish wish you a safe and warm season with loved ones,

Options Development: Cranbrooke Vilage

Options most recently completed development, Cranbrooke Village is located at Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue west.  The condo has 341 units ranging from one to three bedrooms.

Located in one of Toronto's most established neighbourhoods, Cranbrooke Village is a 15 minute walk from Lawrence West subway station and is serviced by multiple bus roots.

Amenities include a rooftop garden and multipurpose room with kitchen.  Green features are prominent at this development and include individual heating/cooling, car sharing and hear recovery ventilation.

Check out the video below to hear from Mike Labbé and learn what residents at our most recently completed building had to say about their new home.



Check out the blog next week to learn the latest on Options two up and coming development The Village by Main Station and Danforth Village Estates.

Bathurst and Lawrence community gets a new local car share

The Options for Cars location at Cranbrooke Village is now available to the whole community!   

Located in the parking complex at 35 Saranac, a Prius C Hybrid is ready to drive for all Options for Cars members in the Bathurst and Lawrence area. 

The car is parked in Cranbrooke Village's underground parking (no shoveling!) and is easily accessible through the rear entrance of the Asbury and West United Church.  Car share members will be given a code to access the lot in their booking confirmation email. The vehicle lives in space CS3. 

We would like to extend thanks to the Asbury and West United Church and Cranbrooke Village Property Management for helping to make the car available to the Bathurst and Lawrence community!

Options Toronto office is building a Toy Tower!

The Holidays are all about giving.  Options is proud to help give back to the children in our community by being a drop-off location for the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish!

We are partnering with the One Fire Movement, a local non-profit organization that raising funds for charity through the arts, that is participating in the drive by providing three drop-off locations, including Options.  On Thursday, December 17th, all the toys will be brought to the One Fire Movement Presents Holiday Magic Christmas concert to be held at the Music Gallery; a benefit concert featuring local Toronto music artists with proceeds going to the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish and War Child Canada.

Help us build our Toy Tower!

Visit the Options office at 468 Queen Street East Suite 310 to make your donation of a new unwrapped toy by December 16th.

New Options for Cars carshare car in the Junction!

Options for Cars now has a brand new location! 

There is now a Mazda 2 parked in the Green P lot at 351 Keele St. just south of Dundas for all Options for Cars carsharing members to use.

The space is specially marked, and is in the south-east corner of the lot.

Whether you are a Junction resident looking for a vehicle on a busy weekend or just looking for fast trip around the neighbourhood, our new location is perfect!

We’d like to thank the Toronto Parking authority for helping us arrange parking in such an ideal spot.

Top 5 Reasons I’m hopeful that we’re making progress on affordable housing in Toronto

This is a guest post written by Heather Tremain, CEO of Options for Homes.

Earlier in my career I worked in green building – at a time when there were many cynics and I heard a lot of ‘it’s not possible.’ I crossed over into another area where there is much skepticism and at times resignation. From green building I learned how to spot signs of possible change and glimmers of hope. Here is where I see some light in the affordable housing ‘space’:


1. Mayor John Tory has been removing red tape and increasing funding

In just the past week, Mayor Tory made a big announcement about a new City Building fund, a 0.5% increase in property taxes to fund housing and transit. No details yet but it points to a desire to take action. I applaud this. The announcement comes on the heels of the City’s Open Door report that proposes to fast-track approvals for new affordable ownership and rental as well as providing additional financing incentives and access to land.


2. The collaborative nature of our city builders

Canadian Urban Institute’s Leadership Day forum last week included a panel discussion with a diverse group of individuals weighing in. Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat, Chief of Police Mark Saunders, Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, and City Librarian Vickery Bowles were panelists, and engaged in spirited dialogue between normally “siloed” organizations. What I heard was a growing understanding that the complex challenges our city faces will be solved through collaboration and ultimately everyone owns a piece of that solution.


3. The quality of our urban leaders

We have some strong leadership in housing in Councillor Ana Bailao (a tireless champion for affordable housing), Mayor Tory and the staff in the Affordable Housing office are working to create the tools to enable more housing – across the continuum.

I’m also energized by the work of the GTA Housing Action Lab, led by Evergreen that is bringing together housing sector leaders, both non-profit and for profit, homebuilders associations, policy makers, financiers, and researchers, to develop programs and policies that support the affordability of housing and ensure residents of all incomes have the best chance to live in a suitable home and have a choice in their housing.


4. The alignment of governments

This is the first time in my lifetime that I can recall such a convergence of interest across Municipal, Provincial, and Federal governments around affordable housing in our cities and an appetite for making progress quickly. We eagerly await the release of the Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy, (due out shortly) and the unveiling of the Federal government who were elected with a strong urban mandate to see how this convergence will play out.



5. The conversation is shifting


At Options. we kicked off National Housing Week with other affordable home ownership providers at a Habitat for Humanity build swinging hammers and mastering the use of screw guns. Our morning kicked off with Minister McMeekin talking about ‘housing as infrastructure’. This was music to my ears… it’s something I have been saying for quite some time. Like pipes in the ground and transit, housing is part of what makes a city work– and needs to work for the people who live there. And it’s something we need to invest in.


It does feel like the moment for housing is now. I am both confident and hopeful that, after many years of stagnation on this issue, there are good things to come in affordable housing. 2016 promises to be an exciting year on this file!







Heather Tremain is CEO of Options for Homes, Canada’s largest delivery agent of affordable home ownership. Now in its 21st year, Options creates ownership opportunities for households with incomes as low as $25,000.00 per year. From the first development in Toronto’s Distillery District, to a new development under construction in Cameroon, Africa, Options organizations have created homes for over 6500 households using a unique housing model. Options Toronto is about to break ground on two new projects that together will enable 525 families to own their own homes. www.optionsforhomes.ca

Founder and President of Canada’s Largest Private Affordable Housing Provider wins City Builder award from the Canadian Urban Institute

TORONTO, December 3, 2015 – Social entrepreneur and founder of Options for Homes (“Options”), Mike Labbé, has won the 2015 City Builder award from the Canadian Urban Institute.  This Urban Leadership award, along with several other awards will be presented at the Urban + Leadership Day to be held Friday, December 4^th at Artscape Sandbox.

The award recognizes an individual's ability to translate a bold vision into actions that have a long-term impact on city building.  “I am deeply grateful to be recognized by the Canadian Urban Institute as a City Builder,” says Labbé.  “Options’ work has only just begun.  Toronto is our base, and we plan to continue to strengthen and grow our work here while taking the model abroad to providing housing in places where it’s badly needed.  We believe now more than ever it’s critical to work collaboratively to address our affordability crisis.”

This award will be accepted by Options for Homes’ newly appointed CEO, Heather Tremain who joined the company earlier in 2015 to support growth plans in Toronto and beyond.  Tremain will sit on a panel of award winners following the presentation to speak on behalf of Labbé who is presently in Africa furthering Options’ work in affordable housing globally.

Urban + Leadership Day and the 12^th Annual Urban Leadership Awards will also feature a morning panel with the City of Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat, Chief of Police Mark Saunders, Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, City Librarian Vickery Bowles, and will be facilitated by CBC Metro Morning’s Mary Wiens.

Date:                           Friday, December 4^th at 8:00 am

Location:                    Artscape Sandbox, 301 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON

                               

Award Ceremony:     11:00 a.m.

Media Contact:

Jessica Speziale

Marketing Coordinator

Options for Homes

416-867-1501 ext. 224

jspeziale@optionsforhomes.ca

Options for Homes is a non-profit organization and Canada’s largest delivery agent of affordable home ownership.  Now in its 21^st year, it creates ownership opportunities for households with incomes as low as $25,000.00 per year.  From the first development in Toronto’s Distillery District, to a new development under construction in Cameroon, Africa, Options organizations have created homes for over 6500 households using a unique housing model. Options Toronto is about to break ground on two new projects that, together, will enable 525 families the opportunity to own their own homes in the next few years. www.optionsforhomes.ca

Options President and Founder, Mike Labbé, won the Canadian Urban Institute's Local Hero Award in 2008.

Win $250 off your car sharing bill this month!

Options for Cars, the Options Group carshare service, is giving you a chance to win a break on your bill this holiday season.

Each trip you take during the month of December will enter you into the draw to win $250 off your December bill.  Just in time for all those holiday errands and daytrips to the skating rink!

The contest runs from December 1st until December 31st.  Visit optionsforcars.ca for details.

Options Development: The Village by High Park

The Village by High Park is a two-tower condominium complex located at Keele Street and Dundas Street West in Toronto.

The Village by High Park is home to 643 households and has 5 retail units.  Energy-saving features include energy efficient windows and appliances and Options for Cars' car-sharing program in the building.

The starting price at the Village by Main Station was $117,000.

Check out the blog next week to learn more about Cranbrooke Village. 

#carshareetiquette

Being a member of car share like Options for Cars can be a convenient and affordable way to get around.  Cutting the expense of owning a car can make a big difference each year.

As a car share member, it is important to remember that you're part of a community and not the only person using the car.  In Options for Cars' most recent video series we remind members of some of the guidelines to being a good car share member.  Check out the series below!

Options Development: Old Kennedy Village

 Old Kennedy Village is a stacked townhouse community with 140 homes and 5 retail units.

Located at Old Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue in Markham, the projects was completed in early 2008.  Townhouses range in size from 685 sq.ft. to 1,110 sq.ft. and started at $102,402.

Below is an early rendering of the project.

Check out some purchasers and Mike Labbé discussing how Old Kennedy came to be.

Check out the blog next week to learn more about the Village by High Park.

National Housing Week kicks off with Build Day

Affordable housing providers and housing leaders coming together for Build Day.

National Housing Week kicked-off today with a Build Day at one of Habitat for Humanity’s build sites this morning.  Non-profit affordable housing providers along with housing leaders from the government, private and non-profit sectors came together for the event.

Left to right: Joe Deschenes Smith of Trillium Housing, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Hon. Ted McMeekin, Ene Underwood of Habitat for Humanity, M.P. Adam Vaughan, Heather Tremain of Options for Homes, Nancy Singer of Kehilla.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Hon. Ted McMeekin, and M.P. and housing advocate, Adam Vaughan, joined in the celebrations.

National Housing Week is an evolution of National Housing Strategy Day, a nationally recognized day to build awareness for housing and homelessness.  National Housing Strategy Day is November 22nd each year and was first established in 1998.

Options team members volunteering at Build Day

Today's Build Day was the first of many events in the week leading up National Housing Day on November 22nd.  The GTA Housing Action Lab has organized a series of activities and events to engage stakeholders and decision makers in the challenges of housing affordability and the lack of diversity in form and tenure of housing in our region and solutions and opportunities to address these issues.

While the week’s activities focus on a broad range of housing issues, today’s build put emphasis on models that provide a stepping stone for low income households to move out of substandard and subsidized rental housing and into the financial security that comes from home ownership.

Options CEO, Heather Tremain, volunteering at Build Day

Options CEO, Heather Tremain, summed it up nicely.  She says, “Since 2000, the average cost of housing in Canada has increased by 60 per cent while average income has only increased by 13 per cent.  National Housing Week draws necessary attention to some of Canada’s biggest and most pressing challenges and opportunities to create solutions. As providers, we know that it doesn’t have to be this way – there are solutions possible when we work together with all levels of government.”  

Thank You from Asbury and West United Church

We love hearing about how the work we do positively affects the lives of others.  Read the below letter from Asbury and West United Church to learn how Cranbrooke Village revitalized the church near Bathurst and Lawrence. 

Options Development: The Village at Guildwood

The Village at Guildwood's 36 townhouses and 9-story apartment building were completed in 2006 at the corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Kingston Road on the edge of the Guildwood area in Scarborough.

Suites range in size from 435 sq.ft. up to 1,180 sq. ft., and started at $90,400.

Check out the video below to hear Mike Labbé speak about Guildwood and hear from purchasers at the development.



Check out the blog next week to learn more about Old Kennedy Village.

Powering People Forward: The Future of Community Energy in Ontario

Register now for Powering People Forward: The Future of Community Energy in Ontario

This FREE event will take place at the Artscape Sandbox, 301 Adelaide St. W. on Wednesday November 18th! 

Register now to reserve you spot at http://powering-people-forward.eventbrite.ca

A representative from Green Timiskaming, an Options for Green Energy Solar Co-operative will sit on an expert panel with representatives from SolarShare and Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative and guest will have the opportunity to network with renewable energy leaders in Ontario.

About the future of Community Energy in Ontario

Since 2009, Ontario's Feed-in-Tariff program has helped to make the province a leader in Community and Aboriginal Power - that's renewable energy owned and produced by people, with local social, environmental, and economic benefits.

As the sector grows and matures, and as policy changes, we are left with some questions: What's next? How do we grow our work and share our experiences to keep our energy systems local?

Don't miss this event celebrating our accomplishments, featuring community and sector leaders from Ontario, networking and information tables from renewable energy trailblazers, and a panel where you get to ask the questions to find out what's in store for the future of local renewable energy ownership!

DON'T MISS THIS AMAZING EVENT. REGISTER NOW! 

http://powering-people-forward.eventbrite.ca

Options Development: Liberty at Discovery Place

Liberty at Discovery Place in Pickering was completed in 2006.

Located just east of Pickering Town Centre, Liberty at Discovery Place is a 219-suite apartment style condominium and is the third phase in Tridel's Discovery Place community.  Prices started as low as $90,400 for bachelor units.

The condominium won the Canadian Condominium Institute Toronto & Area Chapter Condo of the Year Award in 2013, an accomplishment many residents are very proud of.



Check out the blog next week to learn more about The Village at Guildwood.

Guest Blog from Gemma Brian

The Social Benefits of Homeownership
Article by Gemma Brian

When people talk about the benefits of homeownership, they inevitably focus on the financial benefits of homeownership. The housing sector is vitally important to the economy and the financial benefits are easier to focus on because they are tangible, measurable, and it is generally easier to process facts and figures in this way. However home ownership also has substantial societal benefits: these benefits affect families, communities, and our country as a whole. It is because of these societal benefits, as well as because of the financial benefits, that so many policy makers here in Canada promote homeownership, and encourage this to be the ultimate long term goal for both families and young people. Here are just some of the social benefits of homeownerships, and the reasons that these benefits are so important: 

Homeownership Provides Stable Environments for Children

It is important that children are raised in environments of stability, and that they feel grounded and safe in their homes. Research has shown that having a secure family financial situation and housing tenure during both childhood and early adulthood has a huge impact on both an individual’s perceived health and sense of self. In addition to this, children raised in socioeconomically disadvantaged environments grow into adults who are less able to save money and therefore less able to purchase their own homes and provide a stable home environment for their own children.  By providing access to affordable homeownership to families from lower financial demographics, what we are actually doing is breaking this cycle and enabling families to provide stable environments in which to raise their children, in turn teaching them the importance of financial management and providing a stable home environment for their own children. Children living in owned homes show lower likeliness to succumb to teenage delinquency, are less likely to have teenage pregnancies, and obtain higher test scores throughout their school years. For the youngest members of our society, therefore, it is clear that homeownership is important for their social development.

Homeowners Are Less Likely to Be Victims of Crime

Research on the social benefits of home ownership shows time and again that homeowners are far less likely to be victims of household related crimes than home renters: this is thought to be because when you are a homeowner any crime committed in your home has a direct financial implication to you, meaning that homeowners are more likely to employ devices in their home that will deter crime. Joining their local neighbourhood watch program, ensuring that they have a high level of home insurance for extra protection should the worst happen, and fitting external home security systems, for example, will all help to deter crime in properties that are owned rather than rented.

Homeownership Improves Neighbourhoods

In much the same way that homeowners are less likely to be victims of crime, because they are more likely to take extra efforts to protect and secure their property, homeownership improves neighbourhoods because homeowners are more likely to focus on home maintenance and ensuring that the structural quality of housing in their neighbourhood is improved. Research has found that owner-occupied homes are significantly better maintained than renter-occupied properties: this is because home owners are more likely to take pride in their homes and want to protect the financial investment that they have made in purchasing their property. Of course, income will always impact the level of maintenance that a home owner is able to make to their property, but the desire to focus on maintenance will be stronger amongst those who own their own homes.                            

There are a myriad of other social benefits of home ownership, which is the reason why the desire to own one’s own property has been an integral part of the Canadian Dream for decades. As well as the financial implications of owning your own home, including the potential wealth gains to be had from selling your property under normal housing market conditions, you will also find that your family are happier, healthier, and will be better equipped to succeed in life as a result of owning their own home.

Disclaimer: The views & opinions expressed in any guest blog featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the Options Group of Companies community as a whole.

Options Development: Shermount

Options first condominium development outside of the Distillery District, Shermount, was completed in 2003.  It consisted of both condominium apartments (380) and town homes (51) at Lawrence Ave. West and The Allen Road.  

Check out this Options flyer promoting Shermount from 2001:

Shermount is close to all necessary shopping amenities and withing minutes of the University subway line - only 15 minutes by subway to Toronto's city centre. In many cases the carrying costs of the suites are $100 below Toronto's average rent level.

Shermount was the first Options development after the three condos in the Distillery District and the first development built by Deltera, the construction arm of Tridel. See what owners have to say about their Options home. 

Check out the blog next week to learn more about Liberty at Discover Place.

Guest Blog from Modernize.com

Minimalism is the New Black: Why Homeowners are Choosing to Minimize

By: Danielle Hegedus

Via Modernize

Choosing a more minimalist lifestyle requires a change in mindset. Throughout most of our lives, we have been taught that if we work hard, putting in long hours throughout the year, we can earn the money necessary to buy possessions that will make us happy—fancy cars, designer furniture and clothes, state-of-the-art electronics. Just the fact that you own something can also create a sense of security. Maybe you even see your possessions as a defining element of your personality and style. For instance, I’m an intellectual so I collect books on every subject under the sun or I’m a movie buff so I have an elaborate tv setup and a library of hundreds of movies.

More and more though, homeowners are beginning to realize that possessions, whether acquiring them or keeping up with them, don’t seem to bring actual joy to their lives. We know that your life is far more significant and unique than your possessions. We encourage you to build a home that reflects your own personal style, as well as your values. Read on to learn about the benefits of adopting a minimalist philosophy when it comes to your home decor.

Embracing Minimalism Makes Keeping Your Home Clean Simple

Dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping down kitchen counters—unfortunately you still have to do all of these things even if your decor is minimalist. The difference is that it’s a lot easier! Remove all of the kitchen appliances that you never use (for me it’s a waffle iron, salad spinner, and a juicer) or tchotchkes and you eliminate areas where dust can build up or mold can develop. Same goes for bookshelves full of CDs. Sure, they may be sentimental—you listened to that Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour album all summer many years ago, but let’s be honest, if it’s really important to you, you probably have it on your phone or computer already.

Via Modernize

Also, as you downsize your possessions, you also remove the hassle of having to store them. No more digging through kitchen cabinets full of lovely but severely underused serving trays just to get to the kitchenware that you actually use on a daily basis. You may even be able to eliminate the need for large items of furniture like bookshelves or an armoire, making your home more spacious.

Minimalism is Budget and Eco-Friendly

When you make the choice to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle, one of the most liberating parts is letting go of your possessions. You can do this through a yard sale or by listing your items on Craigslist or eBay to make some extra money. Also consider dropping off gently used items to a local charity like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Either way, you’ll be freeing yourself of possessions that you don’t regularly use, while giving new life to your items by passing them on to others (perhaps less fortunate than you) who can make better use of them. You’ll also prevent your possessions from ending up in a landfill.

Via Savvy Chic Boutique & Consignment

A Minimalist Mindset Frees You to Spend Money on Experiences

Try this experiment. Track your spending for one month to determine approximately how much you spend on items like clothing, books, electronics, and decorations for your home. It probably wouldn’t be a stretch to find out that you spend at least $100 on what are essentially disposable possessions—and that’s a conservative estimate. What could you do with $1,200 extra dollars a year? Could you take your family on a camping trip to Algonquin Park? Would that $1,200 pay for a plane ticket for your first trip to Europe? According to CNN, “in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions. That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day, experts said. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred.”

Via Hand Luggage Only

Minimalism Doesn’t Have to Be Boring

Don’t think of minimalism as stark. Instead, think of it as uncluttered—which can also bring good feng shui into your home! Get creative with minimalist decor. Maximize natural light instead of harsh overhead lights and you’ll not only create a bright, welcoming space, but you’ll also get a healthy dose of Vitamin D, while aligning your circadian rhythm so that you are more productive during the day and sleep easier at night. Instead of purchasing knickknacks to decorate your home, bring in plants that will remove the toxins from cleaning products, wall paint, and carpets from your indoor air. When you do decide to display something in your home, make sure that it is something that is significant to you. Perhaps a keepsake from a cherished vacation or photographs of your loved ones. When your decor is minimal, it really showcases what is important to you.

Via Modernize

Danielle Hegedus is a freelance writer based in Atlanta, GA who writes for Modernize.

Disclaimer: The views & opinions expressed in any guest blog featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the Options Group of Companies community as a whole.

Options Development: Mill St.

Options third development in the Distillery District, Mill St., was completed in 2001.

The condo is 144 units and was incorporated into the existing brick and stone historical buildings of the Goodham and Worts Distillery District.  Together with offices and institutional/commercial space, this condo has become part of a thriving, arts-oriented community. 

Check out what residents had to say almost 15 years after moving into their Options condo.  

Check out the blog next week to learn more about Options first condo built outside of the Distillery District, Shermount. 

World Habitat Day 2015 Was A Huge Success!

Thank you to everyone that attended our UN World Habitat Day events yesterday, Monday , October 5th.  Both the flag raising at City Hall in the morning and the Soirée event in the evening were a huge success thanks to our amazing staff, friends and partners in the housing sector.

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.  It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

We are grateful to have partnered with Home Ownership Alternatives, Artscape and the City of Toronto for a flag raising yesterday morning. Councillor Bailao read a proclamation from the City and a representative from Options, HOA and Artscape spoke about World Habitat Day.  Options knows that we can't solve the housing crisis on our own.  Through partnerships with other non-profits, governments and the private sector we can move forward and help to create affordable housing for everyone in the City of Toronto.

Liz Kohn, Heather Tremain, Councillor Ana Bailao, Jens Lohmueller

In the evening Options and HOA hosted a sioree to reflect on housing equity.  The evening featured Pecha-Kucha style presentations by leading housing advocates in Toronto.

Many of Toronto's leading housing advocates and professionals gathered at the Novotel in Toronto to celebrate World Habitat Day and listen to presentations on housing equity from Shelagh McCartney, Jim Dunn, Pauline Praseuth and John van Nostrand.

Councillor Ana Bailao, the City's Affordable Housing Advocate was also on hand to introduce the theme of the evening and Options founder Mike Labbé introduced Options new CEO, Heather Tremain, via video from four African countries.  You can see Mike introducing Heather and giving a short update on Options International's latest trip to Cameroon and The Democratic Republic of Congo below:

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate World Habitat Day and our amazing speakers that helped to generate conversation and remind us that we have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.  

For more photos from the Flag Raising and Evening Soiree check out our Facebook album here.

Options Developments: Parliament Square

Last week we featured St. Lawrence, one of three Options developments in the Distillery District.  See it here: http://optionsgroupofcompanies.blogspot.ca/2015/10/options-developments-st-lawrence.html

This week we'll take a look at Options community, Parliament Square.

Parliament Square is our only condo to offer attendant care services to owners with personal mobility restrictions. 

The three buildings in the Distillery District created the credibility that allowed Options to build strong relationships and build larger, higher density condominiums over the last 15 years.

See purchasers from Parliament Square discuss their homes in the Distillery District.

Check out the blog next week to learn more about Mill St.

Options Developments: St. Lawrence

Last week we featured Weston Village, Options first development.  See it here: http://optionsgroupofcompanies.blogspot.ca/2015/09/options-developments-weston-village.html

This week we'll take a look at Options first condominium community, St. Lawrence.

The St. Lawrence was:
- The first part of the three phase Options condominium development in the Distillery District
- 95-units
-15 minute walk from downtown
- one, two and three bedroom suites
- sold at $50,000 below other new construction condos in the same area

See purchasers from St. Lawrence discuss their homes in the Distillery District.



Check out the blog next week to learn more about Parliament Square.

Options International in Cameroon - Guest Blog

The Options for Homes International team (Mike Labbé, Pauline Praseuth and Monica Daga) are currently in Cameroon to see the progress being made at Ocean View Estate, Options for Homes Cameroon's first development. As the newest member of the International team Monica Daga didn't know what to expect on her first trip to Africa.  She wrote us to let us know how the trip has been so far.  Check out what she had to say below:

Hello Dear Options Team,

I just wanted to share my experiences on my first trip to Cameroon.

I must say that when we arrived I was a bit nervous and did not know what to expect. The ride from Douala Airport to Limbe was dark, bumpy and we were stopped a few times by the military, I was a bit on the edge but later learned that is a standard procedure. We finally arrived to the hotel and we settle in and got ready for the busy week ahead of us.

During the first week I met the wonderful staff from Options for Homes Cameroon, they are absolutely amazing, very warm and welcoming. I got my first glance to the Ocean View Estates site, we travelled to Yaounde to meet Credit Foncier and the Ministry of Housing staff, and later during the week we met with the first deputy mayor of BUEA, and visited the Buea site.

On Saturday, we met Joyce the Youth Leader from Henry’s village. She was accompanied by one of the youth group members, they travelled more than 7 hours to see us, they wanted to learn more about how to raise funds to be self-sustainable, Mike gave them guidance and some great ideas on what to do to raise funds as a social enterprise. I was very impressed with their commitment to make their village a better place.

This week coming up we have a few important meetings with the Mayor of Buea and Sonara (Oil processing facility) staff, and on Mike’s birthday we will be travelling to Congo and might have a meeting in Togo since it is one of our stops before arriving to Kinshasa.

I have included some pictures to share some of the things I have seen so far.

I hope you like them!

Monica Daga

Meeting with the Director General  of  Credit Foncier

View from the Ocean View Estates site

Ocean View Estates Semi-detached Homes

Disclaimer: The views & opinions expressed in any guest blog featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the Options Group of Companies community as a whole.