Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Projects
Source: Jamaica Gleaner, Ashford Meikle, August 28, 2005
Winchester
Estate excites local real estate market
BILLED AS "urban living for the
sophisticated," Life of Jamaica (LOJ) held an open house last Sunday for
its Winchester Estate residential development on the premises of the LOJ
Property Management on Hagley Park Road. Judging by the turnout of the crowd, it
appears that the project will be a tremendous success. Less than halfway through
the event, a third of the units were already presold. And it is not difficult to
see why people are so excited.
3D VIDEO DEMONSTRATION
As well as being treated to a 3D big-screen video demonstration of the completed
project, potential buyers were given the opportunity to select their choice of
ceramic tiles and kitchen fixtures, specifically the cupboards.
The event also featured representatives from
various mortgage companies, LOJ Property Management (LOJPM) sales agents and
executives from LOJ.
Some sixty studio, one- and three-bedroom
apartments will be built on the former Jamaica Broilers land off Hope Road, just
above the Half-Way Tree transportation hub. However, the complex will have its
entrances on Winchester Road and Strathairn Avenue. Both entrances will have a
security post.
COMFORT AND PRIVACY
The entire complex is designed with comfort and privacy in mind, along with an
awareness of the unit holder's investment. To this end, LOJ Property Management
will be the initial property manager. "We want people's investments to be
retained," explained marketing manager at LOJPM, Cecile Diston. She said,
"The access points are recessed and very exclusive. Only four persons will
go up any one landing at any one time. In fact, an internal staircase [in the
penthouse] takes you to the fourth floor."
There will be a common drying yard but - as is
the trend with most upscale gated communities of late - there is no central
laundry facilities.
Explained Mrs. Diston, "Most people do
not want to do the communal stuff. People are very conscious and sensitive about
other people's clothes touching theirs." She noted a point which is the
bane of many apartment complexes. "If the central laundry area is not
well-maintained by everybody, it becomes run-down."
LOJ's legal counsel, Janice Grant Taffe, was
on hand to answer questions, such as those pertaining to the enforcement of the
strata's by-laws. "That's the number one question," she stated that
vis-à-vis strata management, "Everybody has been asking about that."
She explained that LOJ is so serious about enforcing the Strata by-laws that
each owner will have to sign a corollary document, the Owner's Agreement.
STRATA BY-LAWS
The Strata by-laws, usually included in the sales agreement, govern the
management of the apartment complex. The Owner's Agreement binds the individual
lot owner to honour his or her obligations as it pertains to the maintenance of
the property. "Our property mangement company will be vigilant because of
the complex we are trying to sell. Nobody wants to [buy into a] strata because
of the pitfalls. That is why it is important to have professional property
managers who, in enforcing strata rules, make it well-run."
General manager of LOJPM was pleased with the
open house event. "It has been very successful. We only have two or three
penthouses available. "
As well as a community playground (featuring a
gazebo), there will also be an electronic gate system, private mailboxes and
some 80 parking spaces.
Winchester Estate
| Unit |
Price |
Size
(sq ft) |
No. |
| Studio |
$6.018 m |
600 |
20 |
| 1 B/R |
$8.037 m |
800 |
30 |
| 3 B/R $14.582m |
1,600 |
10 |
|