- Contributed
The proposed Winchester Estate apartment complex. Ashford W. Meikle, Staff Reporter
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 told Sunday Business 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, " he told Sunday Business.
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 No.
(sq. ft)
| Studio | $6.018 m | 600 | 20 |
| 1 B/R | $8.037 m | 800 | 30 |
| 3 B/R $14.582m | 1,600 | 10 |
Additional features of the units:
STUDIOS
Full-sized bathroom
A large closet
Patio
Enclosed wash area
1 BEDROOM
Open side kitchen
Entertainment countertop
Living room
Balcony (with access from bedroom and living room)
2 Storage nooks
Washing area
3 BEDROOMS (PENTHOUSE)
Kitchenette with free-form island
Powder room on ground floor
Enclosed laundry area
Bedrooms located exclusively on the fourth floor
Master bedroom with walk-in closet and master bathroom
An additional bathroom
Linen closets for the other bedrooms
Storage nooks.
