Subdivisions spring up across Muskoka

Published in Cottage, Home & Property Showcase, 2007

The concept of Muskoka living is changing. While still known for its cosy, lakeside cottage retreats, more and more urban dwellers are flocking north to settle in newly built subdivisions with small-town appeal. Many move to planned communities to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, but the majority simply want to make their home in a place that is relaxing, yet still social.

Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst have all embraced the concept of subdivisions in recent years, and continue to construct newer and more appealing places for both families young and old to live.

There are several living options available among the new subdivisions being built in Muskoka; from those aimed towards up-and-coming couples with young children to adult lifestyle communities geared towards recent and settled retirees.

“To put it quite simply, they want a piece of Muskoka,” says Chuck MacDougall, project manager for Alliance Homes, the company behind Huntsville’s Woodland Heights subdivision. “Living in a subdivision allows them to have neighbours, dinner parties and garbage pick up, but still be in the countryside."

Woodland Heights, marketed as a high-end estate and custom home community, is located across from Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. Construction began in early 2002, and developers have just recently opened up the final phase to the market.

“We’re on a town road system with cable television, drilled wells and septic, and we put everything underground so there’s no streetlights,” says MacDougall. “There’s a very country feel to it.”

Woodland Heights has 136 lots in total with sizes ranging between 1.2 to six acres on fully forested properties. In the future, a clubhouse will be built in addition to the private 145-acre nature sanctuary for the use of Woodland Heights homeowners.

Homes are built to suit, with covenants placed on the land to protect the value of the homes and community as a whole. MacDougall describes the models as having country flair, with plenty of beam work and high-pitched ceilings.

“Most of my clients come from the GTA area,” says MacDougall, explaining what types of owners have already bought into the community. “The biggest range of my clientele is a high-end retiree, like a baby boomer. I also have younger affluent families that live here.”

MacDougall says clients like the feeling of being set back in the forest, but with the ability to pop into town within five minutes. Local school buses also make pick ups throughout Woodland Heights, for families with children.Settler’s Ridge is another residential option in Huntsville, located just north of the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital on Muskoka Road 3.Built by French’s Fine Homes, (Bert French and Son), Settler’s Ridge is also a mixed lifestyle subdivision with homes for both retirees and younger families. The majority of current residents are described as people who’ve moved north from the city, or those who have purchased a home in town in addition to keeping their Muskoka cottage.

“The basic infrastructure was built about four years ago,” says Al Bryant, marketing manager for French’s. “There are 169 building sites in total, and we’ve got about 25 families living there right now.”

Homes in Settler’s Ridge are built to suit, featuring an open concept style with large family rooms or great rooms. Lot sizes range from 1/3 to 1/2 an acre, but vary depending on the size of the home.

“Settler’s Ridge is a fully treated subdivision, 100 per cent municipally serviced and it’s all underground,” says Bryant. “We cut as minimal trees as we need to keep that natural surrounding.”

Further south, Bracebridge is home to a number of developing subdivisions.

“Inveraray Glen and Mattamy are very big ones for Bracebridge,” says Kim Horrigan, director of development services for the Town of Bracebridge.Inveraray Glen, a sprawling community classified as all-bungalow adult lifestyle for residents 55 and over, has been developing for close to eight years.

Currently in phase three of 14, the newest properties being offered to the public are located just off Santa’s Village Road. Developers envision the completed project as 800 lots, taking just over 20 years to build.

“What we’re opening up now is 500 acres of land in the primary urban area of Bracebridge,” says Gregg Evans, president of Evanco, the developer behind Inveraray Glen. “The absorption market over the next two decades will probably be substantially more, as baby boomers are moving north and people are choosing to live in quieter, less harried areas.”

As one of Bracebridge’s larger subdivisions, Inveraray grows by 30 to 40 homes a year. Each home is custom designed, featuring open concept spaces, and Evans notes that most retirees like models that have fewer, but larger, bedrooms. Inveraray does not place covenants on their residents.

“The adult lifestyle community like to be in the urban area. They like to be able to walk to amenities but they also like the security of sewer and water,” says Evans.

To make this piece of land accessible, Evanco had to build a million dollar bridge over Beaver Creek. They are also installing new hydro transformers, sub stations, storm ponds and pump stations that will serve all of Inveraray.

On the other end of town, Mattamy Homes is in the midst of constructing its White Pines subdivision. Construction of the community, which began May 2007, is just over 10 per cent complete and residents have already started to move in. Homes are built according to a production schedules based on sales. There are 370 lots in total.

A mixed-lifestyle community, White Pines is located just off Manitoba Street in Bracebridge and surrounds the new Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School, Sportsplex recreation centre and Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.

“We’ve got some families in here. We’ve got some young couples getting ready to start families,” says Greg McKibbon, senior builder for Mattamy Homes. “A lot of them are also semi-retired and a lot are moving from the GTA area looking for adult living. That’s not what this is, but it’s that sort of community they can come to and retire.”

Made up of bungalows and two-storey homes with large picture windows, most of the models McKibbon has built so far are two-bedroom models with finished basements.

“Street lights have been put in and just the look of what Mattamy does as far as architectural control makes it a bonus for the community,” says McKibbon.

In Gravenhurst, even further south, more communities are being constructed.

“I think one of the main reasons for this is a lot of our housing stock in Gravenhurst is a bit older, and I think we have a lot of people that are leaving the GTA and looking for new houses to live in,” says Nick Popovich, senior planner for the Town of Gravenhurst.

PineRidge, an adult lifestyle community, is currently under construction by Cripps Contracting in the south end of Gravenhurst, just off Bethune Drive. Built over the last nine years, PineRidge is made up of over 200 homes, 250 lots in total.

“We’re entering into our last phase right now,” says Wayne Cripps, owner of Cripps Contracting. “Ninety to 95 per cent of the people in the community are retired. It’s geared to 55 plus.”

All individual freehold homes, PineRidge is predominantly bungalows from 1,300 to 2,300 sq. ft. Located on lots from 50 to 55 feet wide and in excess of 150 feet deep, developers made an effort to cut as few trees as possible to retain the Muskoka look and feel.

Covenants placed on the properties prevent homeowners from removing any trees without the permission of the homeowners association, and architectural control is placed on the homes. Building of phase seven is close to being completed, and phase eight is being serviced right now to be put on the market for June.

“In the newest phase we have all curb and gutter design. They’ve got all the amenities – gas, water, sewer, cable TV, so it’s on full town services,” says Cripps. Though the first phases were constructed with crawlspaces, the last and current phase of homes will all be built with legal conforming basements.

PineRidge is built around a central community centre, and the most recent homes being constructed back onto a greenbelt that features a trail system, popular for hiking and cross-country skiing in the winter.

“I think people like the idea of having a community centre and being around people that share the same interests,” says Cripps. “I also think they like the idea that when they move up here, they’re not moving onto an existing street where people have lived for 40 or 50 years. They all have similar type backgrounds, and are living among people who are in the same boat.”

There are a number of reasons people choose the subdivision lifestyle. Whether it’s to retire to a smaller community of like-minded residents, settle into a place where young families can live among other young families, or simply to take advantage of community services like sewer and water, there are a number of housing opportunities available in Muskoka. Take the time to research, explore, and find what’s right for your lifestyle.