Thirteen years in the making, Friday Harbour is finally ready to start building residential units, beginning next month. Those who have already taken the plunge are eagerly awaiting completion of their condos and townhouses.
Pat and Vic Hawdon were Canadians living in North Carolina. After retiring, they moved back to Ontario and are currently residing in Newmarket. “We looked for a home on Lake Simcoe on the water, but we didn’t see what we were looking for,” says Pat. “Then a friend told us about Friday Harbour.” After visits to the sales office and the site, they fell in love with the concept and opted for a 3,300-square-foot 5-bedroom island townhome.
“We’re thrilled! We have a great lake view and we’ve worked closely with the construction manager to make the changes we wanted in our unit. Everyone’s been so helpful — the staff at Friday Harbour is amazing!”
The Hawdons have a long list of things they love about Friday Harbour. Some of their favourite amenities include the nearby restaurants, the Lake Club, the pool and walking trails. They’re also happy that the GO train is close by; their daughter Andrea lives on the Toronto waterfront, only 90 minutes away by train.
“The way the whole concept has been presented to us, we know exactly what it’s going to look like,” says Pat. “We’ve really never seen anything like it. All the steps they’ve taken to get this far – now it’s taking shape and getting very exciting!” Olga and Ryan Cohen live in Toronto with their two children, ages 4 and 1. “I grew up spending time at cottages and summer camp, and I’m an avid kite surfer, water skier and boater,” says Ryan.
Olga, on the other hand, doesn’t have experience with cottages and prefers city living, so Friday Harbour seemed like a good choice to meet both their needs. “We can hike, bike or enjoy the boat, but we can also use the fitness centre or dine in the restaurants. And we can skip the maintenance that goes with cottage ownership.
“When we saw the renderings and learned of the partners who were involved in the project, we bought in.” They purchased a three- bedroom harbour flat condo.
The Cohens also appreciate the proximity to the city. “As realtors, we can’t spend whole weekends up north. Friday Harbour isn’t a 3-hour commitment on the highway, so we can run up and rescue the weekend.” Ryan adds: “We’re looking forward to moving in next summer — it will be a great way to enjoy our time together as a family.”
