Chris McNally wasn’t keen on packing his four young kids in the car and making the trek north from Burlington, Ontario to the ski hills, so when a friend recommended Ellicottville, New York, he decided to give it a try.
“We loved it,” says daughter Jennifer McNally, who has been skiing since she was eight. A few years later, the family bought a “modest place” in the community.
“We have a history of going to Ellicottville for more than 20 years. It’s near and dear to our hearts.”
So when the Canadian developer and his daughter were looking for a venture they could undertake together, their thoughts turned to Ellicottville, about a 45-minute drive from Buffalo. “We were more comfortable doing a project in the U.S. based on our experience,” says McNally, the project manager.
The homes include elegant kitchens and high ceilings.
The pair had noticed more luxury properties (three-storey condos in the $800,000 price range) being built in Ellicottville and had a frank discussion, realizing that if their family had gone to the area today, “we couldn’t afford to buy,” McNally says.
They decided to build Glen Burn Trail, which when completed will have 1,600 to 2,080-square-foot homes consisting of 38 two-storey townhouses, 10 duplexes and six triplexes with three to four bedrooms. Prices start at $260,000 for homes with quality finishings and a comfortable and classic look inside and out. Exteriors have gable fronts, double windows, grey stone, white trim and black roofs.
Inside, the open plans feature high ceilings, elegant kitchens and bathrooms and plans suited to a variety of buyers.
One plan has its living space on the second floor to take advantage of views. The bedrooms are on the lower level. Living spaces on the upper levels have vaulted ceilings. However the plan isn’t perfect for every buyer, McNally says. “Downsizers don’t want to have to carry groceries to the second floor, so we flipped the ski development plan to have the kitchen, living and dining room on the main floor and the bedrooms upstairs, she says.
The “patio plan” is popular choice with a variety of buyers. It has the kitchen, living, dining and laundry rooms on the main floor, but also has its master suite located on the ground floor. The second-floor bedrooms are for guests. Downsizers love it but so do younger buyers, whose children or teens make use of the upper level.
Thirty per cent of Ellicottville real estate is owned by Canadians.
The site is “close to town but not right downtown, with access to an existing trail and a new recreational trail being built. What buyers like is its location within walking distance of downtown so they can walk for groceries,” McNally says.
Ellicottville is a four-season resort town, with everything from hiking and walking to shopping, dining and nightlife. The emphasis is on lifestyle, she says. The New York Times once called Ellicottville “the town Aspen used to be.”
Thirty per cent of Ellicottville real estate is owned by Canadians.
Glen Burn Trails, the area’s first residential town home community, offers a “Try Before You Buy” program so that people who are unfamiliar with the village can visit and check it out for themselves. “Prospective buyers are encouraged to come visit and tour the Glen Burn Trail model homes and at the same time enjoy a two-night stay at the Ellicottville Inn, in the heart of downtown, as well as a dinner for two at one of the area’s premier restaurants,” says McNally. “If you decide to purchase at Glen Burn Trail, upon closing, the cost of your two-night stay and meal will be fully refunded.”
Agents can accompany their clients, getting to spend quality time with them and learning about Glen Burn Trail at the same time. The Pritchard Team will do the leg work and referring agents receive a 25-per-cent commission.
For more information visit www.glenburntrail.com or visit www.teampritchard.com.
Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.
