Where it’s always the weekend

Alyssa and Nicholas Freeman from Whitby enjoy cold ice cream on a hot day by the pool on Saturday at Sandbanks Summer Village.

East Lake cottage resort puts on its finery for season opening event

Ice cream, South Bay Chardonnay and a warm salt water pool greeted owners, guests and visitors on Saturday afternoon at the official season opening of Sandbanks Summer Village on East Lake.

Dozens lazed poolside while other wandered through model cottages imagining lives of leisure and comfort. The event featured food, music and a subtle sales pitch all against a backdrop of green scenery and brilliant blue skies.

“It’s a great day,” said Chip Hall, a principal in Sandbanks Summer Village. “Though we had some nervous days.” Hall explained that the workers had been feverishly busy for the past two weeks, laying sod and planting gardens in preparation for the event.

Sandbanks Summer Village has come a long way in the past few years. Many will still remember a driving range; now the property hosts more than 40 cottages, tennis courts, a large swimming pool, an entertainment pavilion and many other amenities.

The project has just begun to sell select cottages in the woodland section of the property and six just released on the water’s edge. Cars are frowned upon and strictly controlled at Sandbanks Summer Village— the preferred method of getting around is on foot—electric golf carts are next best.

The cottages are tastefully adorned yet encourage the visitor to get out and enjoy the many features of the property.

Hall is satisfied with sales so far—he had hoped to be further along by now—but he expects the pace to pick up now that the warm weather is here and the property looks more like a resort than a construction site.

His team is preparing for a busy rental season beginning on June 15. He says 70 per cent of the units available for rent have already been spoken for. Hall says the average buyer is in their 40s and 50s but the project is beginning to see an upswing in young families. Most are from Toronto and Montreal and there is a strong surge of interest from Ottawa residents.

Eight model cottages showcase the amenities and lifestyle offered at Sandbanks Summer Village.

Hall says details matter. His firm made a huge investment in laying fiberglass cable from Picton to the site to ensure his residents have access to safe and secure high-speed Internet.

He insists on serving local products to residents and guests. He says the ladies were pleasantly surprised when he stopped by a church bake sale and bought ten pies to serve his guests on Saturday.

When it was a driving range the property was paying about $4,500 a year in property taxes; currently the project is delivering about $100,000 a year in new revenue to the municipality. They are one of the few builders employing local trades, suppliers and labourers in the County.

Despite the growing contribution to Shire Hall coffers and the local economy, Hall says municipal officials remain cool to the project—with one exception.

“I met your new CAO Merlin Dewing a few weeks ago,” said Hall. “He said, thanks for coming to Prince Edward County. I’ve got to say that felt pretty good.”