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Burlington condo project turning heads
(Hamilton Spectator, Kathy Renwald, Apr 5 2014)

It had the sound of an old-time revival meeting: "One hundred people attended the presale event, 80 people were converted."

Developer Vince Molinaro is talking about the soft sales launch in February of the Molinaro Group's Paradigm condominiums in Burlington.

Molinaro will build five condo towers on Fairview Street at Brant on five acres of land just steps away from the Burlington GO Station. The buildings, ranging from 18 to 24 storeys, will contain 929 condos.

"Proximity to GO is the key," Molinaro, the company president, says from Paradigm's chic sales centre. "People buying here will be hopping a train to work. The price point will appeal to the upwardly mobile young person just starting out and to empty nesters, too."....

The condos will range from 556 to 1,097 square feet, with prices from $250,000 to $500,000. Condo fees are 58 cents per square foot per month.

Molinaro Group bought the land two years ago.

The architects, interior designer, landscape architect, real estate company and Molinaro Group partners have spent an intense year designing everything from the buildings' exterior to finishes in the condos to the amenities.

The towers, with graphic blocks of black and white stepped out from the face of the building, are a departure from the usual conservative condo tower construction.

The condos will have high-quality finishes and details, according to Ashley White, the project's development manager, including polished quartz counters in the kitchen, nine-foot ceilings, and contemporary designed cabinets and hardware.

The sales centre features one stop shopping, where buyers can choose from packages of textures and paint colours. Interactive display screens show the views buyers will see from their condos. Three thousand people have registered their interest and they'll get a shot at buying before sales open to the public April 26.

Molinaro says prospective buyers are also attracted to Paradigm's concept of a "lifestyle building."

Artist renderings in the sales centre show a fitness studio, yoga rooms, half-size basketball court, circuit training, all-season pool, hot water spa, sauna, landscaped terrace, rooftop sky lounge, movie and presentation theatre, party rooms and guest suites.

The land Paradigm will occupy has been vacant for more than 20 years. Building restrictions include a 20-storey height limit, 30-metre setback from rail lands, the construction of a crash wall and a defined path between the development and the GO station....

Molinaro says Paradigm's five condo towers could take five to seven years to build. But it could happen quicker based on the interest in the project.

With 70 per cent of the first building already sold, construction is slated to start this summer. Phase 2 sales should start in September, according to Molinaro.


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