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The Nicklaus-designed golf courses are two of the many reasons why Bear Mountain Resort is a must-visit destination. Also, the Mountain course will host the 2016 Pacific Links Championship, a PGA TOUR Champion event taking place on September 19 to 25, 201
The Bear Mountain Bike Park, Coach Jordie Lunn
Presented with the opportunity to create a world-class destination unlike any in Canada, Dan Matthews approached the project differently than many developers.
The CEO of Victoria-based Ecoasis Group of Companies— the owner, developer and operator of Bear Mountain Resort—believes in investing in community amenities before building homes. This stands in stark contrast to the common practice of selling properties then using revenues to fund public amenities, but for buyers, it means they can trust in what they’re buying and needn’t wait to enjoy their property.
“We’re big believers in investing in amenities and infrastructure prior to developing the real estate,” Matthews says. “In the realm of land development, promises are often made that don’t always come to fruition. We like to take that risk out of the purchase and provide clarity for our owners.”
The up-front approach has paid off.
“We’re offering people transparency on one of life’s most significant purchases—delivering what we say we will,” says Matthews.
Experienced in resort and urban resort real estate in Whistler and Hawaii, Ecoasis was uniquely positioned to realize the possibilities of Bear Mountain.
“There’s nothing like it in Vancouver or the rest of Canada, and only a few similar properties in North America,” Matthews explains.
Purchasing the resort in 2013, some 15 per cent of homes were for sale; today it’s less than one per cent. While Matthews concedes the upswing in the real estate market has helped, it’s also the renewed focus on what people love about the property.
“It’s a unique concentration of amenities in an urban centre. Bear Mountain is situated adjacent to a region that encompasses 300,000 acres of parkland and contiguous greenbelt where you can experience activities all year. You have a job base, an international airport and some of the best medical care in Canada at Victoria General Hospital. This truly is an urban resort, an opportunity to live and work year-round in an area where all the amenities are exceptional.”
Successful growth meant celebrating more than a spectacular location and two Nicklaus-designed golf courses, however. In fact, Bear Mountain Resort will host the 2016 Pacific Links Championship, a PGA TOUR Champion event taking place September 19 to 25, 2016. Matthews connected the resort with national-level golf and mountain biking training, and an eight red clay court tennis facility is under construction. In turn, athletes bring their talents to help others of all abilities learn and play at Bear Mountain. Currently home to more than 3,000 people and 1,150 properties, the community will eventually welcome 4,000 homes and up to 10,000 people.
With the opening of phase 2 of the Bear Mountain Parkway, the primary road will link the resort to the Trans Canada Highway, allowing the newest subdivision—Cypress—to take shape. Single-family lots, townhomes and low-rise condominiums rise steps from the town centre, to include a 50,000-square-foot retail centre and plans for a gondola to the top of Mt. Finlayson, one of the region’s highest mountain peaks. “It will give residents and tourists of all physical abilities the opportunity to see that view,” Matthews says. “It will also link a downhill experience with our network of mountain bike trails.”
At the forefront of all plans is sustainability.
“Always top of mind is our focus on being a carbon neutral community by 2020,” Matthews says, noting single-family home purchasers will receive an electric cart to move around Bear Mountain without using vehicles. Offering extraordinary value and lifestyle experiences 20 minutes from Victoria, visit www.bearmountain.ca/livehere and discover what makes Bear Mountain a one-of-a-kind destination.