A ‘missing middle’ offering in Saanich’s desirable Gordon Head area is drawing interest from first-time buyers, downsizers and investors with its market-leading price points and sought after location, Citified has learned.

 

Marlowe – an under construction pre-sale from homebuilding partners Tri-Eagle Development and Cadillac Homes (see website | see profile) – has quietly begun selling its collection of 58 studio-through-three-bedroom condominiums and townhomes along Tyndall Avenue north of Feltham Road.

 

The site layout at 4201 Tyndall Avenue consists of seven buildings rising three storeys, connected by a central common area. Resident amenities include cycling storage and an outdoor entertainment space complete with a barbecue kitchen.

 

Construction began earlier this year, and occupancy for the first three buildings is planned for the midsummer of 2025. A subsequent phase is slated for completion in 2026.

 

With prices starting at $350,000 (plus GST) for boutique suites, $500,000 for one-bedroom homes, $650,000 for two-bedroom layouts and $950,000 for three-bedroom stacked townhomes, Tri-Eagle partner Cory Lee says, that despite not having a marketing campaign and no presentation centre, Marlowe’s homes have already piqued the interest of buyers looking for attainable urban new-builds in a blue chip neighbourhood.

 

“Demand for entry-level starter homes in Gordon Head is considerable, as the dominant housing form is single-family homes priced well out of reach of so many buyers,” Lee says, adding:

 

“Gordon Head is one of Victoria’s most attractive residential communities, close to schools and recreation, near a wealth of ocean and mountain park land, the UVic campus, shopping, and transit connections. And since mortgage payments on our boutique suites are comparable to rental rates, first-time buyers have the opportunity to build equity with each payment, instead of contributing to a landlord’s income.”

Of particular interest at Marlowe has been the debut of its boutique suites. These compact homes, from 360 to 400 square feet, are the brainchild of Cadillac’s Cam Pringle, and employ what Pringle describes as “innovative designs that maximize space efficiency,” with features like built-in queen bed frames and mill work with storage that “reduce the cost of entry to homeownership,” Pringle says.

 

The entire premise behind the project, Lee tells Citified, is to deliver housing affordability in Victoria’s urban core at pricing typically found in the West Shore suburbs of Langford and Colwood. Rarely does an opportunity to mirror West Shore prices appear in the Capital’s urban core, Lee says, and the value proposition is working in Marlowe’s favour.

 

“From the launch of our development concept, Tri-Eagle and Cadillac have made Marlowe as competitive as we could, while adhering to the practices and standards of our many completed housing developments throughout Greater Victoria,” Lee said, and continued:

 

“Through a unique site plan and off-site pre-constructed materials that allow our crews to save so much time, we are able to realize construction cost savings that are directly passed on to our purchasers, who would have otherwise been priced into the West Shore market."

 

An artist's rendering of Marlowe, a 58-unit 'missing middle' housing project coming to the 4200-block of Tyndall Avenue in Saanich.  Tri-Eagle Development / Cadillac Homes

 

Efficient construction and highly competitive prices do not mean budget finishings, however. The homes at Marlowe are built with thoughtfully chosen materials and hardware, with modern interiors that meet refined expectations for new-builds in Greater Victoria.

 

Marlowe’s elegant, low maintenance exteriors are joined with quality interior designs curated professionally for a smart, modern aesthetic that is big on space, efficient in layout and practical with durable materials and custom storage.

 

Residences open to light-filled living spaces, as sturdy vinyl flooring sets a tone of sophistication in every suite. Up-market Hunter Douglas window coverings are included throughout, and a mudroom with coat hooks, a bench and shoe cubbies is featured in townhomes.

 

Kitchens are functional and bright, with solid surface countertops, chic soft-close drawers and cabinets, and a tile backsplash that frames a posh stainless sink paired to a chrome faucet. A stainless steel appliance package and must-have under-counter lighting lend to each kitchen serving as a focal point in every home.

 

Thoughtfully designed millwork adds to contemporary bathrooms topped by a solid surface counter, tile flooring, five-foot tubs and showers, water ridge toilets and Maxwell sinks mated to classic chrome faucets.

 

Parking is provided via surface stalls with spaces allocated to larger homes, or available for affordable purchase at only $12,000. For residents that may prefer cycling as an option, Marlowe’s first-class cycling storage room will impress both casual riders and daily commuters. Transit connectivity is among the best in the region for a residential community in Saanich, serviced by routes 27 and 28.

 

“One of the main perks of Marlowe’s location is its access to a high frequency, all-day transit service to downtown Victoria, and transit connections to many parts of the Capital Region including UVic, the West Shore, popular malls and shopping centres, and points of employment like CFB Esquimalt, the Saanich Peninsula and Royal Jubilee Hospital,” Lee says.

 

Residents will also benefit from a Modo car-share membership and a Modo vehicle parked at the project. Modo car shares have become increasingly popular in the Capital in recent years, allowing many households to do away with the expense of owning a vehicle, while larger households can reduce their vehicle needs to just one car.

 

Lee says the response to Marlowe's 'missing middle' residences shows the need for this housing typology, especially in transit-connected urban neighbourhoods.

 

"Saanich has established itself as a leader in transitioning its low density residential areas into higher density, economically diverse communities. And based on the response we've seen with home sales at Marlowe, Victorians priced out of central neighbourhoods now have an opportunity to put down roots in Gordon Head, at prices they can afford."

 

To schedule a site visit or to learn more about Marlowe’s homes, view the project website here.

 

As one of the Capital’s most diversified development firms, Tri-Eagle’s many decades of homebuilding has culminated in a large roster of housing investments throughout Greater Victoria, including Royal Oak’s Radius luxury apartments on West Saanich Road, and the newly completed Shelbourne Street at Stockton Crescent rental community near McKenzie Avenue.

 

Cadillac Homes has been developing family housing in Greater Victoria since 1987, and has made inroads into the multi-family market through unique construction processes and well established home designs catering to discerning homebuyers. C

 

© Copyright 2024 by Citified.ca. All rights reserved.