Residents to start occupying units by October 28, 2009

At the Homeowner Information Meeting, a very informative presentation was provided.   I have the slides on paper - if you missed it and would really like a copy, leave a comment and I'll try to scan and upload it.  Or, contact the property management office and ask for a copy.

Some important but quick points:


Greenpark after-sales service contact info:

Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
TEL: 416-661-5994
FAX: 905-669-0442
eMail: service@greenparkhomes.com

Property management:

Simerra Property Management Inc.
On site office: located by the courtyard lobby in the high rise (not in the townhouse complex)
Property Manager: TBA
TEL: TBA
FAX: 416-293-5904

Area Manager: Ada Clarke
TEL: 416-847-2325
FAX: 416-293-5904
eMail: aclarke@simerra.com

Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI):

PDI will be done one to two weeks before YOUR occupancy date, M-F 8am-4pm, as scheduled by Pre-Delivery Specialists (PDS).   Your appointment confirmation and inspection will be performed with PDS (TEL: 289-997-7374).   The purpose of the inspection is for:

• formal instroduction to your new home
• guided room by room tour of your suite and its features
• inspect for workmanship and condition of the various finishes

Moving in:

• Key Pick-up: Unit owners can pick up their keys from the Concierge when their solicitor confirms that Interim Occupancy has been finalized.  BRING OFFICIAL PHOTO ID !!
• Move-in date can not be sooner than your interim occupancy date.
• Elevator bookings and deliveries must be booked through Julia Lee at Simerra, 416-847-1024.   Deliveries can also be booked through the concierge.
• 3 hr limits on elevator during interim occupancy.
• Each unit is separately metered for hydro (PowerStream), water (PowerStream), and gas (Enbridge).  Note that heating is electric.
• Each unit gets 1 fob for each garage stall owned, and 1 access control card for each condo unit.  Owners may purchase more access cards to a maximum of 1 per unit resident.

Condominium Corporation Registration:

Currently, the building is not actually a registered Condominium (as a Corporation).   The Builder will, around Q1-Q2 2010, register the building to turn it into an official Condominium Corporation.   Unit owners will be notified within 30 days of registration.  Unit owners' lawyers will be notified of this final closing date.  Within 42 days after majority closing, there will be a 'turnover' meeting.   This is when the Corporation starts to run the affairs of the Condo.   Note that the Condo Corporation needs a Board of Directors (3 Directors), which are elected by the owners at the 'turnover' meeting.   The Board will schedule their first meeting within 2-3 weeks after their election at the turnover meeting.

The Richmond Condo on Google Maps Street View

Google Maps Street View for the GTA became available on Tuesday, October 2, 2009.

Click this link for a view of The Richmond Condo, from the east side. The images were taken in Spring, so extensive construction was still evident.

David Dunlap Observatory lands planning meeting

Richmond Hill's 'David Dunlap Observatory Lands Planning and Conservation Management Study' is hosting an open house to:

• establish a conservation management plan that assists in managing and protecting the property's heritage attributes;
• develop a land use vision and strategic direction for the future of the site.
• describe the study process, what a management strategy is, and how it will guide the future vision of the David Dunlap Observatory  Lands.
  

Date and Time: October 20th, 2009, 7pm - 9:30pm.
Location: Langstaff Community Center, Yorkshire Room (155 Red Maple Rd, Richmond Hill)

For more information, visit the Richmond Hill town website, or go to http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/ddo_pcmstudy_open_house.pdf

Town Hall Relocation Project & Feasibility Study

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In 2008, the Town of Richmond Hill completed a study to determine if it was feasible to relocate its main Municipal Offices (Town Hall) from the current location at 225 East Beaver Creek Road to a Town-owned site at the south west corner of Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive. After researching the space needs, planning requirements and civic spaces in other municipalities, the study concluded that relocating the Town Hall to a newly built facility at the proposed location was feasible.

Council has not yet decided whether to proceed with this project and is looking to residents and businesses for their feedback before making a decision.

Town Hall Relocation Project Survey

You are also invited to complete the Town Hall Relocation Project online survey, which will be available until October 15. Hard copies of the survey are available at that time at all Richmond Hill libraries, community centres and at the Town's main Municipal Offices located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road.

For more information about the Town Hall Relocation Project & Feasibility Study, see the links below or contact Lise Conde, Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives at (905) 747-6410 or lconde@richmondhill.ca.

• Related Staff Reports

Relocation of the Town of Richmond Hill's Municipal Offices - Final Report [PDF] Town Hall Relocation Feasibility Study Staff Report (SRCAO.08.39) - November 24, 2008 [PDF] Relocation of Town Offices - Process and Timing (SRCAO.08.01) - January 21, 2008 [PDF]

David Dunlap Observatory Lands sold.

You may have noticed that there is a very large parcel of undeveloped land to the East of The Richmond Condo. This is the David Dunlap Observatory lands, upon which exists many deer, coyotes and foxes. Unit owners facing east and south will have a clear view of the main observatory domes, as well the historical buildings.


U of T recently sold the David Dunlap Observatory lands, including the buildings and telescope structures contained within it, to Metrus. This is about 170 acres of pristine land in the absolute heart of the town, and includes land on which sits the Elvis Stojko Arena and the Observatory Park (16th Ave/Berwick Crescent).

Originally donated in trust to U of T, for astronomical research by the Dunlap family, this facility's large optical telescope found the first evidence of black holes.

The main telescope is still one of the largest optical telescope lenses still in existence.

The town of Richmond Hill is in the midst of preparing various by-laws and regulations to govern the development of the lands, which the Heritage Canada Foundation had identified as 'Canada’s Top Endangered Cultural Place'. You can participate at town hall meetings (click here for more information). That site offers town reports, cultural studies, maps, meeting schedules, contact info, etc.

You can also connect with non-government organizations such as The Richmond Hill Naturalists and the Save the DDO organization.

Alternate public schools

Although the school boundaries are pretty strict, there are other alternative non-private schools - if you meet certain criteria. Such schools include:

• There are 2 elementary schools with gifted programs, Crosby Heights PS and Silver Stream PS. Because these schools serve all of Richmond Hill, nearly all gifted students are bused.
• Several French Immersion schools are in the area.
• Several Catholic schools are in the area.
• Bayview SS has an IB (International Baccalaureate) program. There is also a Catholic IB school, Sir Robert Catholic HS.
• Richmond Hill is full of private schools, pre-kindergarten through high school.
  

Secondary School is Alexander Mackenzie HS

According to current York Region District School Board secondary school boundaries, the high school for residents of The Richmond Condo is Alexander Mackenzie HS.

Elementary School is Walter Scott PS

According to current York Region District School Board elementary school boundaries, the public school for residents of The Richmond Condo is Walter Scott PS. Because of the distance to the school, younger children will likely be bused to school.

Richmond Hill studying town hall relocation to Yonge/Maj.Mack

The town of Richmond Hill is considering moving it's municipal offices to land it owns at the corner of Yonge St/ Major Mackenzie. Richmond Hill would like your feedback at meetings being held on Sept 16 and Oct 8. Find out more information at:

http://www.richmondhill.ca/subpage.asp?pageid=town_hall_feasibility_study.

Picture of condo near completion

I just took this picture today, from the empty field to the building's west face.

Condominium Owner's Information Evening

Condominium Owner's Information Evening scheduled for Sept 30, at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts - which is just north of The Richmond Condo.

This is getting exciting. The condo is surely nearing completion when the building's property management firm schedules an owner's information meeting to discuss, among other things:

• occupancy dates
• pre-delivery inspection process
• general condominium living protocols
• hydro, cable, phone, and other service providers will also present

If you have not received your invitation, you may want to contact the condo's agent at 905-292-2900 or email info@therichmondcondo.com. The letter requests RSVP by Sept 18.