Clarice Coty's Blog » Building Links News

Specialty Batteries Sold, Rebuilt and Recycled at The Battery Shop

Clarice — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:10:37 +0000

The Battery Shop is Vancouver Island’s one stop shop for batteries and battery services. The Battery Shop in Courtenay sells batteries of all styles – from camera batteries to RV and golf cart batteries. The Battery Shop also repairs and rebuilds specialty batteries for construction tools, home appliances, specialized trades equipment, security systems and more. The Battery Shop has the equipment and expertise to create custom batteries. They also offer a battery recycling service for the Comox Valley.

Counters and More from Courtenay’s Colonial Countertops

Clarice — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:58:20 +0000

Colonial Countertops in Courtenay specializes in the manufacturing and installation of decorative surfaces and countertops. Kitchen and bath countertops, tub surrounds, shower walls, desktops, reception areas, window sills and much more. Colonial Countertops is able to provide homeowners and builders with the latest styles, trends, and colours. In their Comox Valley showroom, clients browse hundreds of different styles of laminates, natural quartz, and solid surfaces. They are proud to offer: top-quality, unsurpassed service; on time delivery; and professional installation. Colonial Countertops is a family-owned business and has been serving Vancouver Island since 1970. For more information, visit their website at www.colonialcountertops.com.

Design Your Kitchen, Bath or Closets With Bouttell’s Design in Comox

Clarice — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:45:42 +0000

Bouttell’s Designs brings kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and customized walk-in closets to the Comox Valley and Campbell River. Bouttell’s Designs in Comox offers a highly-customized line of kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets with a large selection of options for all budgets and style choices. A solid wood selection of cabinet mouldings, door styles, and finishes give any cabinet project a custom look. Bouttell’s Designs also provides customizable organizing systems for walk-in closets and small rooms, to create attractive, functional spaces in any home or office. The layout and design of the kitchen, or bathroom cabinets, or closets can be configured using Bouttell’s latest design software and other virtual tools.

New Real Estate Developments Mean Construction Increases on North Vancouver Island

Clarice — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:01:56 +0000

Editor’s note: The following story ran in the Jan. 13 edition of the Comox Valley Echo.
New figures show there was a big fall in the number of new houses being built locally last year – but there are signs the situation is starting to turn around.
The details have been compiled by Building Links – the digital newsletter monitoring North Vancouver Island construction activity – which notes a significant drop in construction in the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas last year.
In 2010, building permits for 468 single-family homes were issued compared to 363 last year, said Building Links editor Clarice Coty. That represented a fall of 22 per cent.
In percentage terms, the biggest reduction was in the Town of Comox, down from 105 to 44, or 58 per cent.
Year-on-year single-family home building also declined in Cumberland (down from 27 to 16) and in the City if Campbell River (a fall from 167 to 114)
But more homes were built in the City of Courtenay last year than in 2010, with the numbers rising slightly from 61 to 69. And in the rural areas surrounding the municipalities, there was also growth – from 108 homes in 2010 to 120 last year.
The overall value of local construction activity of all types in 2011 amounted to $175 million, said Coty, but that was down by almost $35 million on the previous year’s $209.5 million total – a 16 per cent fall.
“We expect that new housing starts will increase by about 10 per cent in 2012 due to the new inventory of new lots in the Comox Valley,” she suggested. In addition to single-family homes, Coty noted there had also been permits issued last year for 62 multi-family units in Comox worth a total of $11.6 million in construction costs, and another 66 in Courtenay – including three duplexes with a building permit value of $10.2 million.
She added: “There are at least four condominium and mixed use developments that are slated to start construction in the region during 2012: two in Comox, one in Courtenay and one in Campbell River.
“These projects have received most of their approvals and are waiting for building permits before proceeding. In total they will bring approximately 120 new multi-residential units on to the market.”
She considered the past year had been “challenging” for the construction and real estate industries on the North Island, but added: “This year shows signs of promise.”
Go to the Building Links website to subscribe to your 4 free copies of the newsletter

Sage Hills Seeks New Financial Backer for Large Scale Comox Valley Development

Clarice — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:21:41 +0000

Promoters of the proposed Sage Hills development in the Comox Valley say a company has been lined up to refinance their land mortgage, the Comox Valley Echo newspaper is reporting.
A signed agreement is not yet done, but Sage Hills vice president Shannon Price told the Echo they had a definite commitment from an overseas funding source. Price said they are confident of sealing the deal within the next several weeks, allowing them to pay off their existing lender and so avoid the possibility of a court-ordered land sale.
“We are working on closing the details,” she said. “We are giving ourselves a lot of leeway and we are confident. We are not seeking other financial backers – we have an agreement and the lawyers are working on it.”
Independent Academies Canada Inc – of which Sage Hills Developments Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary – bought the 2,083 acres south of Courtenay in 2006 for $4.1 million. The company has plans for an ambitious development that would include a private school and university campus, sports academy, hotel and wellness facilities and new residential real estate.
But the Alberta company providing the existing land mortgage wants out, and has secured a court order to have the entire property put on the market in a bid to recover its money, and ‘For Sale’ signs have now gone up alongside the Inland Island Highway.
The realtor marketing the site for $4,790,000 – Ed Handja of Coast Realty Group in Campbell River told the Echo the lender “has been very patient and given them quite a few months to resolve their issues before instructing that the land be marketed.”
But he added: “They would love nothing more than for these guys (Sage Hills) to be successful.”
Handja is actively seeking offers on the land, while Sage Hills pursues its separate quest to seal new financing arrangement to allow the existing loan arrangement to be paid off and the property removed from the market.

Real Estate Construction Expected to Rise in Nanaimo

Clarice — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:44:27 +0000

There’s reason for quiet optimism in the central Vancouver Island area construction industry, despite lingering effects of an economic downturn.
That’s the message close to 200 audience members heard at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Vancouver Island’s construction industry forum in early January. From interest rates and investment opportunities in Nanaimo, speakers talked of a stable B.C. economy with slow growth in a number of sectors expected in 2012.
Toby Seward, Nanaimo’s director of development, said there are people who want to invest in Nanaimo.
“2011 was a bit of a tough year, but it looks like 2012 is going to be a steady year,” he said. “We review the stats, review what’s going forward and the signs are looking good in our one- to five-year forecast.”
There are numerous real estate developments now happening in Nanaimo, including the Sandstone project in Cedar, the Green Thumb Nursery property on Hammond Bay and the Madill property on Bowen Road, he said. “Oceanview is still talking about moving ahead as well,” he added.
Bill Corsan, Nanaimo’s manager of real estate, said investment opportunities are being driven by low interest rates, flattened land values, low vacancy rates and lack of rental products.
Travis Archibald, Vancouver Island market analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, said housing starts in Nanaimo fell in 2011, but remain relatively stable and a slight increase is forecast for this year.
“We also saw roughly 1,500 MLS transactions in 2011 and expect a slight increase to that in 2012, but nowhere near past levels,” he said. “Supply is relatively stable and there should be a bit of an increase in demand this year, but it is still a buyer’s market.”
Doug Wittal, CHBA provincial president, detects a sense of optimism among homebuilders in the central Island and likes what he sees in terms of people stepping outside the box.
“We drive the market, we drive the economy and if you’re not willing to change your product and get into the new world, you’re not going to have a market and you’re not going to be working,” he said.
Wittal pointed to the Greenrock industrial park between Bowen and Boxwood roads and the Village at Summerhill townhouse project on Dufferin Crescent as two examples. The Boardwalk is another new real estate development in Nanaimo, featuring ocean view condos and townhomes
“You have to be innovative in today’s world,” he said. “Green and affordability are key words. That’s where we have to go.”

Excerpted from the Nanaimo News Bulletin

Parksville Real Estate Assessments Hold Steady

Clarice — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:35:56 +0000

Property values were typically stable or down slightly in Parksville, according to this year’s BC Assessment roll.
The estimated average assessed value of a single family home in Parksville was $317,900, up $900 or 0.3 per cent over the same time last year, according to BC Assessment. The average strata condominium assessment is down $5,000 or 2.2 percent to $222,800.
Vancouver Island Regional Assessor Bill MacGougan said most residential property changes in Parksville are in the minus 10 to plus five per cent range, with commercial property changing slightly less.
The combined value of all taxable residential property in Parksville and Qualicum Beach is $3.8 billion, up $43 million from last year. Commercial property has increased by $3 million to $322 million.

Unique Live-Work Building Slated For Courtenay Applies For Changes

Clarice — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:23:53 +0000

Changes to plans for a mixed commercial and residential development in Courtenay’s downtown core have been presented to city council.
The proposal for Tessitura Flats — a recording studio and a live performance venue with a cafe and residential units — was approved for a development permit in June, at 534 Cumberland Rd. near the school board office and fire hall.
A company representative presented Courtenay council with updated plans for Tessitura Flats, which would now consist of 14 new Comox Valley homes instead of 13, and six live/work units instead of five. On the third floor, one of the two proposed retail spaces and a residential unit would become the additional live/work space. The mezzanine, would be replaced with two residential units.
“If we reduced the size of that (mezzanine) we were more likely to be able to populate rather than have this cavernous space,” explained Eirah Unger. “We thought by increasing the density it would improve our numbers.”
While the building would not physically change in height, it would now be considered five stories instead of four, as a mezzanine is not considered a floor. The development would still be oriented around a central courtyard, and the live performance space would still be the central feature of the project.
Council unanimously passed a motion to give notice to adjacent property owners and return the application to council Feb. 6.

Excerpted from the Comox Valley Record

North Vancouver Island Real Estate Assessments See Significant Swings

Clarice — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:40:06 +0000

North Vancouver Island homeowners saw good new from their recent real estate assessments if they are planning to staying put, but not so good if they’re looking to sell.
The province lowered values throughout the Tri-port (Port Hardy, Port McNeill, and Port Alice) area, with Port Hardy the hardest hit. Some homes there saw a 15 per cent drop in value. However, some homes in Port Hardy saw a 15 per cent increase.
That means, based on a home valued at $200,000, a $30,000 drop in price, or a $30,000 hike, in some cases.
“Most homes in North Vancouver Island will see moderate decreases or little change in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” said Vancouver Island regional assessor Bill MacGougan.
“But, a 30 per cent spread is on the wide side. It’s usually not that wide of a dispersion in terms of changes (but) it does probably signify something going on locally.”
The Tri-port area is still better off than Tahsis, where real estate assessments in some areas dropped by 25 per cent.
Port Alice also faces a 30 per cent swing with property values dropping 10 per cent in some areas and climbing 20 per cent in others.
Port McNeill fared a little better with a 20 per cent swing; 10 per cent down in some areas and 10 per cent down in others.

Excerpted from the North Island Gazette

Ladysmith Real Estate Assessments Hold Steady

Clarice — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:12:59 +0000

Ladysmith and the surrounding area on Vancouver Island saw few changes in the 2012 real estate Assessment roll.
“Most homes in Cowichan Valley will see moderate decreases or little change in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” said Vancouver Island regional assessor Bill MacGougan.
Overall Cowichan Valley’s taxable residential assessment roll is $11,868,483,068 this year.
A total of almost $242,000,000 in new residential value has been added due to various changes, including subdivision, rezoning and new construction, according to BC Assessment.
In Ladysmith, the residential general overall taxable value in 2011 was $1,037,804,001, and it is essentially unchanged for 2012, as the total residential value is $1,037,759,701, explained MacGougan.
“It’s so close to being no change at all for individual values in Ladysmith,” he said. “You’ll see changes for most properties of minus-10 per cent to plus-five per cent. The overall assessment is completely stable, but individual property owners will see changes to their assessments either moderately up or moderately down.”
The total value of all property classes in Ladysmith in 2012 is $1,130,325,221, up from $1,125,766,282 in 2011.
“There are two different types of changes affecting roll value,” said MacGougan. “There’s market change — what happened in the market to affect change — and non-market change — new construction, rezoning, subdivision, all these sorts of things that can increase value or create value but are not related to changes in the market.”
Within Ladysmith, $21 million in new residential construction added to the roll, according to MacGougan.
“Last year, it was close to $27 million, so it’s not much different than last year,” he said. “Most jurisdictions are down more than that in their growth.”

Excerpted from the Ladysmith Chronicle