Vancouver Sun
June 14th, 2007
University Heights launches one of Canada’s newest premier communities.
This new development will be a model for sustainable community design in the Sea to Sky corridor
With close to 1200 people already registered to purchase what will only be a handful of homes coming onstream at a time, local Squamish developer Douglas R. Day does not have to make much of a sales pitch for the upscale University Heights development in Squamish.
“When you enter University Heights, you know you have arrived at a special place,” he says simply. “I believe it will be finest residential community ever to built in Squamish.”
University Heights is the first market housing development within the development area of Quest University, a new undergraduate liberal arts and sciences university. The 47-acre project, being developed by University Heights Development Corp, will serve as a pioneering model for sustainable community design in the Sea to Sky corridor.
“University Heights will strive to preserve and enhance existing natural features, promote efficient use of resources and provide a range of housing types that reflect varying incomes, lifestyles and ages,” says Day.
The University Heights community will adhere to a number of environmentally sound principles. The entire development will utilize geothermal ground source systems for heating and cooling, providing a more cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to gas or electricity. Neighbourhoods will be ‘Fire Smart’ (all homes are sprinklered, adequately buffered from forested areas and will be constructed with fire-resistant materials) and will feature pedestrian and cyclist friendly streets and path networks.
Alternative storm water management features have also been incorporated, such as paving stones that allow water to seep through the ground rather than down gutters and sewers, and rainwater collection systems that allow it to be reused for watering lawns and gardens.
Such features don’t come at the expense of the homes themselves. Ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, the craftsman-style houses come with every convenience and luxurious features you would expect in a high-end residence, says Day. “All homes are traditional looking from the exterior yet very contemporary inside, with open plans, beautiful moldings, extensive use of granite, and hardwood flooring.”
of us remember from our youths, University Heights has reintroduced the concept of lanes and garages and has purposely brought the houses closer to the street. “There’s nothing sillier than a big front lawn,” says Day. “If you bring a house out closer to the street, all of a sudden, you have people sitting out on their front verandas and this helps to make a neighbourhood more friendly.”
At University Heights, homeowners will be closer to the amenities that have made the Sea to Sky corridor famous - breathtaking views, forest habitat and recreational opportunities – and will be living ‘close to nature’ while minimizing development impacts. In addition, the development is adjacent to some newer amenities of Quest that are available to University Heights residents, including a gymnasium, soccer field, tennis courts, squash courts and a health club.
