The first phase of Travino, a community of 250 residences in the Royal Oak area of Saanich, is now complete. Instead of looking at scale models, visitors can tour on-site show suites to get a sense of what is yet to come as the project builds out over the next four or five years.
Travino is a project by Mike Geric Construction, a family construction and development company that traces its roots to building single-family houses in the Broadmead residential community in 1968. The company has evolved into building multi-family developments, with the Duval and Heatherdale projects its most recent accomplishments.
The Travino is the firm鈥檚 largest project to date. When completed, the 3.2-hectare site will boast five buildings ranging in height from four to six storeys.
Several details set the development apart from its competition.
The parcel of land can be reached only via two private roads off Wilkinson and West Saanich roads. This gives the development the impression of a private cul-de-sac, with no through traffic.
鈥淧arents with children are going to love it,鈥� said Mike Geric, president of the company. 鈥淵ou just won鈥檛 get a bunch of cars driving through, so kids can safely play on the grounds.鈥�
Residents with school-age children will also appreciate the fact that Royal Oak Middle School is right next door.
The location is also close to two shopping hubs: Broadmead Village and Royal Oak shopping centres, which include a strong cluster of neighbourhood and community-scale shops and services. As a welcome present, Country Grocer will give each resident a shopping cart to make it more convenient to take home groceries and other shopping.
While some residents will be retired, the developer anticipates that a lot of buyers will be working. Those heading downtown will appreciate the property鈥檚 close proximity to the Pat Bay Highway if they drive, and the Royal Oak bus exchange if they take advantage of public transit. As an incentive to go green, purchasers will receive free bus passes for a year.
Other transportation initiatives include a communal eight-passenger van that can serve as a shuttle to take workers downtown, 10 bicycles that residents can borrow and 10 parking spaces with electrical plug-ins for residents who own non-polluting electric cars.
Residents wishing to keep fit and healthy can take advantage of nearby recreational opportunities, including area trails and the nearby Saanich Commonwealth Place, with its world-class swimming pool. Residents don鈥檛 have to leave to get their exercise, though: there鈥檚 a gym located on the premises.
The project鈥檚 common area also includes a 50-seat theatre, library and a community room with a kitchen, so that residents can warm up a meal and clean up afterwards.
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Herbs and vegetables for the meal could be grown by residents in a community garden with up to 60 plots.
The garden will include a pond constructed to handle the project鈥檚 storm water. The pond will be an attractive water feature, with landscaping and a bridge leading to an island, complete with a gazebo, in the middle. Storm water collected from buildings on site will be channelled to the pond, where it will naturally percolate into the surrounding landscaping.
Environmentally conscious residents will appreciate the inclusion of a solar-assisted hot-water system. An energy-efficient heat pump will supply heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer to all units. The cost of the both utilities is included in monthly strata fees, which range from $220 to $360.
鈥淭he only utility residents will have to pay for is electricity for their lights and cooking,鈥� Geric said.
But the most unusual feature is the inclusion of a caretaker for the community. The developer will hold back one unit that comprises an office with living quarters. The strata will pay for the caretaker, who will be responsible for maintenance and security on site. Having a resident caretaker can be less expensive and more responsive than employing the services of a property-management company, which many stratas need to do to get items repaired or replaced.
鈥淚t is a feature we tried out at another project [and it] worked out really well,鈥� Geric said. 鈥淚f the strata eventually decides they don鈥檛 need the service, the unit can easily be sold. But in the meantime, having a person on-site gives residents a go-to person for things that need to be done.鈥�
The Travino鈥檚 recently completed first phase consists of two parts: a 30-unit building composed solely of condominiums and a 32-unit building with 26 rental suites and the project鈥檚 recreation and community facilities.
The units in the first phase are mostly two-bedroom units, with one or two bathrooms.
There are eight open-concept layouts to choose from, with sizes ranging from 790 to 1,065 square feet for units with a den. Prices range from $369,900 to $429,900.
There are only two one-bedroom-with-den units left, ranging in size from 657 to 779 square feet. They are priced at $319,900 and $349,900.
