The biggest residential development underway in Saanich, the Travino, is about to open the doors to its first building in January.
Once completed, Travino will be a community unto itself on seven acres of former Royal Oak school grounds.
The first phase is two buildings which will be ready for occupancy in January. One is a 30-unit set of condos and the second is a 32-unit complex with 26 for rent and six for sale.
The building offers a mixture of one bedroom suites with a den, two bedroom suites and two bedroom suites with a dens, starting at $289,000, most at around 800 square feet.
However, as the final three phases of Travino will be built over the next four years, the prices of the first building will reflect that, said Ed Geric of Travino development firm Mike Geric Construction.
“We priced it to take into consideration that there’ll be some construction going on, it’s priced competitively. Keep in mind, the first buildings are on a road that’s contained, landscaped, and there will be no direct contact with the other construction.”
The first two penthouses sold fast, $850,000 for the three bedroom, with 1,900 square foot and a 1,000 square-foot balcony, and $600,000 for the smaller, 1,300 square-foot suite with a balcony around 800 square feet.
Mike Geric Construction isn’t new to the area, as its been developing homes in Royal Oak since 1968. Most recently it built two major projects in Royal Oak, the Duval in 2012, a single building condo, and the 45-unit Heatherdale in 2010.
“It’s our biggest project when you combine each phase but we’re not intimidated because we’ve done larger single phases than this before,” Geric said.
“The amenities here are first rate. We have a common area with a gym, library and a theatre that seats up to 50 people that anyone within the srata can book free,” Geric said.
He anticipates the strata will likely arrange a weekly movie night.
There’s also: a community garden area for the residents, up to 60 plots, which will go on a first-come-first-serve basis; a strata owned 10-passenger van which will commute down town in the morning; 10 strata-owned bikes to use free of charge; and a grocery pull cart supplied to every unit by Country Grocer (the nearest grocery store). A long list of green features includes solar assisted hot water heating and air conditioning and a heat pump system in every unit.
There’s secured underground parking and plenty of visitor above and below.
Overseeing the use of the theatre and the other amenities is an onsite caretaker who will live there full time, offering security.
At the heart of the property, once completed, is a pond which will be well landscaped with two bridges crossing to an island and gazebo. A planned natural feature, the pond will actually be used for storm water retention.
“Water will channel to the pond where it will build up and release slowly, and the gazebo is not just for strata, it has an easement onto it for public access,” Geric said.
Large green spaces, community areas and walking trails will connect Travino to the surrounding neighbourhood.
reporter@saanichnews.com