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.

Options for Cars October Thank You Special

Options for Cars wants to say Thank You to its members and what better time than the month of October.  Options for Cars members are so supportive of the Options vision and they recommend Options for Cars to all of their friends. Take a look at the videos below from real Options for Cars members:





You can find more testimonials like these at https://www.youtube.com/user/OptionsforCarsGTA/videos

With members like these how can Options for Cars not show their appreciation?  For all of October Options for Cars will be offering lower rates on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for all of its vehicles.

Rates will be starting at $8/hour & $50/day.  If you aren't a member of Options for Cars, now it the perfect time to join and enjoy lower rates.  Visit www.optionsforcars.ca to join today and learn more about the October Thank You Special!

Options Developments: Weston Village

Options for Homes has been around for over 20 years.  In that time a lot has been accomplished.  Currently we have 10 completed developments, 2 developments over 80% sold that will being construction soon, 2 set to launch next year and much more in the works. Options is gearing up to be able to produce 500 units of affordable ownership per year.

For the next 10 weeks we will be looking back at each of our completed developments and the communities that have been created at each.

First up is Weston Village:

- Options first project
- Completed in 1997
- 42 townhouses
- Resale values have increased by over 40%

Check out Mike Labbé discussing Options first ever development below.



Visit our blog next week to learn more about Options development, St. Lawrence.

TBT Cranbrooke Village Demolition

This week we're throwing it back to the demolition of Options more recently completed project, Cranbrooke Village.  The condo was completed in 2013 and is completely sold out.

Options purchased the land from the Ashbury and West United Church which was already on the site. Before construction began on Cranbrooke Village part of the church was demolished and some upgrade and renovations were done. Check out some photos from the demolition below.

Demolition started in January 2012 and occupancy began in the fall of 2013. Most purchasers have been living in their condo's for over a year and have settled into life as home owners.  A few owners at Cranbrooke Village have recently invited Options cameras into their homes to give us tour and speak about their lives as homeowners.  

We are excited to share their stories with you.  Stay tuned to Options YouTube channel for those videos in the coming weeks.  In the meantime check out some of our other videos and home owner testimonials here.

Options owners - in any development - if you are interested in participating in an Options suite tour contact Carly at events@optionsforhomes.ca.  We would love to get a snapshot of your life in your Options home.