Counting on his condos

BY CARLA ALLEN

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

Ken Anthony is hoping to receive high marks for his creative renovation of the former Barrington High School into The Courtyard Condos.

He’s so certain the project will be a winner he’s even sold his oceanfront home and claimed the first completed unit.

An open house event for the complex will be held on Sunday, June 3 from 1 – 4 p.m.

“Everyone is so excited about this project,” said Anthony, who designed the floor layouts. Each unit will be named after a former schoolteacher.

Condo buyers can view Anthony’s 1800 sq. ft. two bedroom unit (with two balconies) to get an idea of options then work with the developer to transform their shell.

The entire facility features solid construction, with foot-thick walls.

“It’s so secure and solid, you could have a band below you and not even know it,” he said. “Structurally, you couldn’t build a new building for what they built this.”

Anthony had planned to build condos in Liverpool, but when the school came on the market last fall he saw an opportunity closer to home. No one else bid on the property.

Much has been accomplished in three months and construction crews continue to scurry about the grounds.

The units go on the market June 3rd. One other unit has been sold besides the one bought by Anthony.

“The other buyer is not local, which surprised me,” he said.

Prices start at $175/sq. foot, which works out to between $200,000 and $225,000 per unit.

In addition there will be taxes and monthly fees for items such as snow removal, lawn maintenance, interior upkeep and a capital reserve fund. The arrangement works out especially well for older residents who don’t want to deal with the maintenance, says Anthony.

“They can just walk out the door and know it’s going to be safe and secure when they get back,” he said.

The complex will have a wheelchair lift, gym, storage area for each resident, and a common area.

Anthony is working at attracting boutique businesses and offices to the east wing of the development. Condo owners will be able to access these from inside but clients in the commercialized area will not be able to enter the condo court unless buzzed in.

The former school’s running track is at the rear corner of the complex and the Barrington Bay walking trail is two minutes away, as are the businesses of downtown Barrington Passage.

Anthony has lived in the area for 20 years, has considerable property holdings and has been highly instrumental in local development, attracting Tim Hortons, the Atlantic Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, Subway, and the Great Canadian Store amongst others.

He paid a tithe of the cost of one unit for the eight acres but is investing a hefty sum to develop the impressive complex. He’s appreciates the advantages he had to start with.

“The building was here, the sewer system, the sprinkler system… all the infrastructure,” he said.

The 30-year old educational complex, which was composed of an annex, high school and junior high, was closed several years ago because of environmental reasons.

“There’s been no environmental issue at all in this building. The other school (junior) was a complete mess which we ripped down and also the annex,” said Anthony.

With the aging demographic, Anthony believes he has a slam dunk winner with The Courtyard Condos.

As the old school continues to transform, it’s apparent each improvement is a source of excitement and pride for this far-seeing developer. He also plans on attracting several large businesses to five acres on the east side.

“I’d rather build than keep the land. I like building housing and keeping people in the area,” he said.