The Cape on Bowen has recently announced the launch of phase two for oceanfront properties. Don Ho, partner of the Cape on Bowen, is aware that some members of the Bowen Island community are trying to rekindle discussions about creating amenities in exchange for a higher density but says that the window of opportunity to revisit the plans is very narrow.
"If there is going to be a process at all, it will have to happen very soon," Ho said. "We are waiting for council to direct us on how we can move forward. We are not going to slow down construction and sale and what we have prepared in terms of marketing for this summer." Ho explained that the first phase included 14 lots, nine of them sold. "The success of our marketing shows us that we created a product that most people want. And contrary to some speculation, most of our buyers are local Canadians," Ho said, adding that the Cape on Bowen's marketing strategy focused on Bowen Island, other islands and the Lower Mainland.
For phase two, 10 lots have been added, five of those are waterfront lots. "Interestingly enough, when we announced phase two, people who had looked at the first phase came back," Ho said. "Within a week, one lot was already sold at $4.38 million." Ho says that construction will start soon for at least five homes. "When the houses go up, people will see that this is real," Ho said, adding that he expects more sales this summer.
With construction going ahead, Ho says that work on the infrastructure, including a circular drive that connects to Tunstall Boulevard dubbed the loop road, will also commence. "We want to complete construction as soon as possible," Ho said. "Although we are interested in exploring alternatives, the later the decision is made, the less flexibility we have for redesigning the land." Any alternative plan will exclude the lots that have been sold as well as the lots that are currently on the market, according to Ho. "The urgency is there not because we are not interested, but because in business we cannot afford to wait and see."
Ho says that he has been approached by individuals as well as groups interested to come up with a different plan. "We need to hear from council and not just a group. We are ready to be open-minded about coming up with a better lay-out and more amenities for the rest of the property. We are also part of the community and would certainly like to have common objectives," he said adding that he expects to live at the Cape on Bowen one day.
Ho says that he is prepared to spend additional funds. "We have a total of 618 acres. Fourteen lots are already gone and we'll have to take out around 70 acres for driveways. That still leaves us with more that 400 acres of land for better lay-out that meets the needs of the community," he said, adding that it has been discouraging in the past to be branded as "greedy developers." He explained, "We have been trying to do our best and be good corporate citizens. A lot of people accuse us of taking out all the trees, but we are not totally disrespectful to the land. Not a single tree has been cut unnecessarily. We have the best consultant, PGL, to guide us through the environmental process and ensure best practices and environmental protection."
Even if council acts quickly and gives direction to the Cape on Bowen owners, Ho says that a public process has to follow. "We are not assuming that if council gives direction, that will be the final thing. We still need to convey to the community what is on the table," he stated.
"We really wanted to do much better than our subdivision that is only good for a privileged few, we intended to have a community that makes good sense," Ho says of the Neighbourhood Plan that was rejected by the former council because of the high density (the plan envisioned 650 units going into the property). Ho explained that the density was the answer to all the community amenities like parkland, affordable housing and a retirement community the developer had been asked to provide. "We wanted a well-planned, well-designed community for the enjoyment of everybody," he said. "Now we've come to a stage where some people are regretting that the plan was killed without a second look," Ho says.
