A couple of years ago it was a vacant lot planted in corn - a bank at one end, homes to the south, a sprawling, growing shopping mall across the street. In time, hundreds of people will live there.
Joylife Imperial Towers, a massive project of Kitchener-based JoyLife Property Management LP is progressing on its development of the Paisley Road plot of land between Imperial Road S. and Elmira Road S., hastening towards completing the first of three apartment buildings. It is among Guelph’s largest apartment developments. The land is the equivalent of an entire city block.
That first 10-storey structure, with 180 units - somewhat higher end in terms of amenities - began in late-summer, 2014. A second building is now rising adjacent to the first, and plans are in the works to start the foundation of a third building.
Vince Robitaille is the project manager. He said several hundred people will eventually call JoyLife Imperial Towers home. A show suite in the first building is expected to be ready for viewing sometime this summer.
“Right now we are at the drywall stage,” Robitaille said, speaking of the first building. “A few of the floors have been passed by the city, so we are able to drywall. We are hoping to have something mid-summer for a model, so people can come in a possibly do some layouts for when we have occupancy for the first few floors.”
All units are rental, but Robitaille said they are “more condo-like” in terms of style and materials used.
“With every project there are complications, but I would say it has gone fairly smooth,” he said. “The city has been very cooperative with us. And we’ve started building number two next door.”
The second building has progressed up to the third-floor in the concrete work, and construction has moved along rapidly given the fairly mild winter. There will be 126 units in that building. There is a permit application before the city for the foundation work on the third building, which is already site plan approved. The third building will also have 126 units.
From the start, Joylife Property Management has seen the location as highly advantageous, with a major retail shopping mall with a Zehrs grocery store across the street, a Costco Wholesale down the block, banks, restaurants, and a gas station close at hand, and the West End Community Centre within easy walking distance.
“Everything is so nearby, I think it is going to be a great little community for people to come, rent our apartments, and just walk across the street for many of their needs,” Robitaille added.
It is possible that occupancy of the first building could begin later this year. Once the model apartment is open the company will have a better idea when occupancy will commence, and which floors will be available for occupancy.
