Despite a change of ownership and a total rebranding, the condo development at 1491 Stittsville Main Street is still struggling to find buyers, pushing the expected completion date to mid-2017.
Taylor Bennett, sales representative for Bennett Property Shop Realty, has been in charge of the account since December and admits it’s difficult to sell homes in the current environment.
“It’s not the greatest time for real estate,” he explains. “So we haven’t done a huge amount of marketing yet.”
The site was rebranded as Stittsville Walk after a change in ownership in the summer of 2015.
However construction isn’t expected to begin until the end of 2016 and it could be later if there’s not enough interest.
“It really depends on how sales go,” says Bennett. “Once we have a little more than half sold out they can start building it, which will take six months.”
Construction for an original project called Reverie Quarters ceased in 2013, and the original design sparked community backlash that eventually led to the drafting of a new Community Design Plan (CDP) for Stittsville Main Street.
Bennett says a reason behind the current rebrand is to “make it more accepted.”
The original site plan called for four of the condo buildings, plus a fifth multi-story commercial building along Stittsville Main Street. Bennett confirmed that while there are no plans to eliminate any of the five buildings in the original plan, they will all be redesigned.
To this end, the company has introduced new 1,500-square foot bungalow units with indoor parking in addition to the two-storey terrace townhouses originally advertised.
The rebrand had to include the structure from the previous development, complicating the process for Bennett and his team.
“We didn’t have total freedom,” he explains. “Ideally we wanted to have a bunch of one-level living styles, but we were confined to the existing building.”
Nevertheless he says the new plan will be appropriate for Stittsville Main as envisioned in the new CDP.
“I think the bungalows will be well received,” says Bennett. “We think this fits the demographic looking to live in Stittsville a little better.”
Good article. I wondered what they were going to do with that stalled development. Stittsville really is struggling for a new identity and as a fairly longtime resident I hope we don’t completely morph into Kanata West. This unique little development, if done properly, could be a step in the right direction.
Thanks for your comment Rick. Stittsville Main Street is in fragile shape right now and it’s important that any redevelopment is done with the best interest of the community mind. Here’s another important one to keep an eye on: https://stittsvillecentral.ca/comment-seven-reasons-why-a-proposed-drive-thru-doesnt-fit-on-stittsville-main/
I’m am not suprised by the slow sales, these are ugly buildings.
I’m not sure what the designer was thinking, but it wasn’t a design that would be harmonious to the local neighborhood.