Le Griffix – a new condominium project in Griffintown The Montrealer April 1, 2011 9954 It’s hip, urbane and best of all – a solid real estate investment A century ago, Griffintown was home to the people who worked in the nearby factories, the port and the immense rail yards that used to bisect the city. The factories are closed, and the rail yards were replaced decades ago with new neighbourhoods comprised of townhomes and condominium apartments. The City of Montreal and private developers are now working to transform and rebuild the old neighbourhood located at the doorstep of Montreal’s vibrant downtown. Griffintown is the next logical area for development because of its proximity to downtown; but also with the advantage of the recreational facilities within the park system running alongside the Lachine Canal. Old Montreal and The Old Port with its parks and facilities are quite literally next door. The heavy lifting for redeveloping the surrounding areas has already been done. Recreational areas, restaurants, shopping and local service providers are already in place close by. Purchasers in Griffintown have an opportunity to realize gains on their real estate investments; in part because the developers have one of the lowest per-square-foot selling prices in the area. The result has been that over 120 units have been sold in just 6 weeks – an incredible feat in a tight real estate market that highlights the price/value equation that is clearly evident to informed purchasers. Le Griffix is a new construction 20 storey building located in the heart of Griffintown at the corner of Peel and Wellington streets, with views of the Lachine Canal Park, the river, port and the Montreal skyline. There are 175 one to three bedroom units; each with a large concrete balcony, huge energy-efficient windows and fully equipped kitchens. There are several spectacular Penthouse units still available; including a few three-bedroom models. Developer Luc Poirier is working in tandem with Robert Cohen’s Diamond Trust to market and build Le Griffix. Both have extensive experience in large scale developments. Luc Poirier developed St-Lambert on the Golf and St-Bruno on the Lake; while Diamond Trust has a long list of successful projects; including a massive 10 million square foot development in Vaudreuil that includes 2,500 residences and 2 million square feet of commercial property under development. The family business also owns the Ericsson office and research centre on Decarie Boulevard. Both companies bring considerable expertise to the design and construction of Le Griffix. The walls between units are doubled, including a double layer of drywall on each side of the dividing wall. Additional sound insulation bats are mounted into shared walls. Floating hardwood floors are included in all living areas, with ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms. Purchasers have a choice or kitchen cupboards and Quartz kitchen countertops. Central air conditioning is included, and built-in central vacuum systems are a moderately priced option. A fully equipped roof-top terrace has outstanding views of downtown, nearby parks and the river. There are numerous eco-friendly features; such as heating the hallways and common areas with re-captured heat. There are just 8 to 14 living units per floor, ranging from one to three bedroom configurations. The best suggestion I can make is that you do as I did – and visit Sales Director Kim Bruneau and her staff at the office and see what has captured the collective imagination of so many purchasers. A big part of the competitive advantage is due to the Griffintown location of Le Griffix. Le Griffix sales centre is located at 173 Peel Street (at Wellington). Office hours are from noon to 7pm Monday thru Thursday; and noon to 5pm on weekends. The web site is informative and user friendly, with easy-to-read floor plans for each unit by floor. www.legriffix.com or call 438-884-0044.
