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Creating unique communities begins with the right vision

Georgian Communities creates remarkable neighbourhoods
10-02-2021 Georgian

There are a lot of different skills involved in the building of new homes. When it comes to building unique new communities, however, the most important skill required is a deep commitment from an organization with a passion for doing things the right way.

That’s a defining characteristic of Georgian Communities, an award-winning Barrie-based developer and home builder with a sterling reputation for excellence when it comes to community building. Long before any home or condo construction begins, the team at Georgian Communities conducts a very thorough analysis of the attributes of each individual property they are considering for development.

“When we look at a potential community to develop we look at what’s remarkable about the area,” said Andrew Massie, Executive Vice President of Georgian Communities, the developer behind such renowned projects as Braestone Estates in Horseshoe Valley and Windfall at Blue in Blue Mountain. “We look at the property. We look at the site. We look at what nature is providing us with there. And then we try to leverage that.”

According to Massie, such analysis is necessary to help inspire the architects behind such large-scale community builds to make best use of the site. The ultimate goal is to incorporate a variety of amenities he calls “remarkables” into the existing natural environment to enhance the overall quality of life in each neighbourhood.

“All these things are very lifestyle focused,” said Massie. “The architecture and the design and the quality of the home is very important to us of course. But what is also important is what you do with your time when you’re not inside your home. We like to focus on that, and I believe it’s something that sets us apart.”

The Braestone Estates development is a classic example of the success Georgian Communities has had in realizing their vision, this according to Mike Parker, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The development was named 2016’s Best New Home Community by the Canadian Home Builder’s Association, and Parker says it’s easy to see why.

“If you use Braestone as an example, it’s a community created with access to the neighbouring farm,” he said. “We have a skating pond in the winter. We have a variety of hiking trails. We have a sugar shack where people can participate in making maple syrup. We take a broader approach when looking at developing communities like this.

It is very lifestyle oriented, and as an add to the community and surrounding area we’ve transformed the Orillia Golf & Country Club, now Braestone Club, that offers premier golf and an unparalleled year-round dining experience at The Ktchn.”

Although Georgian Communities is a relatively young community development company, they’ve already sold over 800 homes and delivered a large portion of them, earning countless annual honours for single family dwelling and condo suite development in the process.

The company has deep roots in Barrie and surrounding Simcoe County community. Massie’s father purchased Georgian Chevrolet in 1981, launched Georgian BMW, and the family has been instrumental in supporting local sports including bringing the OHL Colts to the City of Barrie.

The next big project on the horizon for Georgian Communities is planned for the historic village of Craighurst. Massie says the company is already in the planning stages to determine what unique features can be incorporated into the project.

“It is in close proximity to the Copeland Forest trails,” he said. “We’re looking at all the things that could benefit the entire community of Craighurst. Perhaps we incorporate a farmer’s market, a pavilion that could be used by the community, or a skating rink. We’re trying to embody all the things that are amazing about small-town Canada.”

Although no specifics are available at this time, interested buyers can register to receive updates via the company website. Visit Georgian Communities online at https://georgiancommunities.ca/.