It’s vibrant, dynamic and a hot spot for homebuyers on the quest for a neighbourhood with outstanding views and a traditional sense of community. Welcome to the ever-evolving Foothills at Burke Mountain located, you

guessed it, on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam.

CELEBRATE DIVERSITYIf you haven’t visited in a while, get set to be wowed by the sheer number of homes and housing types. From two-bedroom townhomes to elegant, estate residences, The Foothills has them all – half a dozen builders showcasing nine show homes with several more expected to open over the next few months.

“My wife and I spent most of the afternoon exploring, and we still haven’t seen everything,” says George, a Vancouverite who admits he discovered The Foothills by happy accident when he made a wrong turn on the way to a friend’s anniversary party. “And the value is amazing. We thought we’d end up settling for a resale townhouse, but here we � gure we’ll not only be able

to buy something brand new, but we’ll be able to get a house. Our second child is due soon, so it’s going to be great.”

Jen Derbyshire, director of marketing at Wesbild, the award-winning company behind The Foothills, pointed out yet another bene� t of a community with this depth and breadth of offerings – especially for growing families like George’s. “This is a neighbourhood you can grow into,” she says. “You could

easily start out in a townhome for about $400,000, then � ve or six years later, simply upgrade to a house. No need to uproot the family or make the kids change schools.”

A COMMUNITY EVOLVESDerbyshire is also particularly excited by some of the non-residential development at

Natural living, urban sophistication

The Foothills at Burke Mountain

p r o j e c t p r o f i l e

by SUSAN M BOYCE

The Foothills. “We’ve already opened Millard Orchard Park, which was named after the original owner of the property here,” she explains. “But now we’re just weeks away from opening the Galloway Neighbourhood Park. It’s going to be a very cool addition to the neighbourhood – playground, water park, Tai Chi circle, picnic benches and a sports court. Fun for all generations.”

Other big news is the Meridian Crossing, the commercial centre that begins construction this summer at the corner of Coast Meridian and David Ave. “This will be The Foothills’ � rst commercial development,” Derbyshire says, clearly de-lighted with the announcement.

“One of the things all our neighbours have wanted is a local coffee shop, and now we’ll have one.” Not just any coffee shop either. This will be the fourth location for Café Divino, an urban coffee bistro that’s been winning hearts and accolades for their outrageously yummy baked goods as well as some of the � nest lattés and coffee treats for years in Port Moody and Coquitlam. A Subway has also been con� rmed, and Derbyshire’s hoping a dentist and daycare will soon follow.

AMAZING LOCATIONFor sheer convenience, The Foothills is de� nitely tough to beat. The shopping mecca of Coquitlam Centre is an easy � ve-minute drive, restaurants from get-me-going-quick to � ne linens and candlelight are everywhere, access to transit including the West Coast Express is just round the corner and for you road warriors, it’s a bridgeless commute to downtown Vancouver – quick, ef� cient, painless.

Need more enticements? Okay, how’s this? The Evergreen Cultural Centre plus sports � elds, Lafarge Lake, an aquatics centre and golf are all just minutes away. Head down the hill and in less than � ve minutes you can be wandering along the much-loved Traboulay PoCo Trail along the Coquitlam River.

And if you haven’t discovered the trails and lakes at Minnekhada Park, you’re in for a treat – truly still one of the Lower Mainland’s hidden gems. “Mind you, if you’re a bit more adventurous, you can always check out the moun-tain biking and hiking at Pinecone Burke Provincial Park,” Derbyshire says. Ah ha, always something new to learn about this neighbourhood.

The Foothills informati on centre is open noon to 6 p.m. daily except Fridays at 3381 David Ave. (at the corner of Coast Meridian and David) in Coquitlam. Individual builders also have show homes open. Informati on about the community and the builders is available at thefoothillsatburke.com or call 604.472.9320.

This is a neighbour-hood you can grow into.JEN DERBYSHIRE

TYNERIDGE BY POLYGON

BURKE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS BY FOXRIDGE

BIRCHWOOD ESTATESBY WALLMARK

BURKE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS BY FOXRIDGE

NORTHBROOKBY CITIMARK

22 NEW HOME GUIDE | APRIL 6 - 20, 2012 APRIL 6 - 20, 2012 | NEW HOME GUIDE 23