Huron Creek Developments, founded by President Peter Catana, is a leading residential builder and developer based in Kitchener, Ontario, that specializes in new home construction and community development. Catana has built a strong foundation and assures their customers the highest quality homebuilding based on inspired craftsmanship and sound construction experience. Catana and Vice President and Partner Rick Martins join us to discuss their core values, building process, and what sets Huron apart from their competitors.
Filling Community Needs.
What sets your approach to affordable housing apart from other developers?
Peter Catana: We bring affordable home options to communities by designing creative multi-unit buildings and providing auxiliary or duplexing possibilities in single-detached designs where the homeowner can finish the extra living space. The interior standard features have been carefully selected to reflect both on-trend and timelessness, while keeping affordability at the forefront. Each buyer is introduced to their customer care concierge that is with them from the very beginning of the homebuyer journey to the post-move in warranty period. Our new home purchasing experience is paperless, and purchasers are provided an on-line portal where they have their purchasing documents stored as well as a communication platform for warranty requests. We credit Huron Creek Development’s success over the years to their awareness of community needs, and a strong sense of commitment and perseverance in order to meet those needs.
Exceptional Service.
In what ways does Huron Creek go above and beyond to anticipate, meet, and exceed the expectations of their homeowners?
Rick Martins: The Huron Creek Developments team is the backbone of our business. We have learned to work as a well-oiled machine; where each individual person’s contributions make a significant positive impact on every project we take on. Collaboration is encouraged and teamwork is always the name of the game. This is what allows us to keep raising the bar to make affordable, quality homes our purchasers will love.
We believe in making a difference in the communities Huron Creek develops. I trust that my team has everyone’s best interests in mind and I take their ideas and opinions into consideration before any decision is concrete. I make an effort to gather input from our trade partners, team members and purchasers. This way you’ll get a good idea from one person, then someone else gives thought on it, and you make it into a great idea. That to me, is the foundation of what success is built upon.
How does Huron Creek Developments ensure continual communication with their clients throughout the home-buying process?
Rick Martins: Huron Creek Developments commits themselves to the customer’s vision and works closely with them to create a product that combines the client’s personal interests and needs. They ensure continual communication throughout the entire process and make every effort possible to ensure their client’s experience is stress-free. Our Mantra; “Doing Less, Living More.” is what we live by and we are committed to ensure you and yours, from the beginnings of your home-buying process right to the post move-in comprehensive warranty & service program. Our homebuying journey includes a courtesy pre-drywall walk-through – where buyers are able to see the placements of rough-ins for electrical/plumbing/HVAC installations, along with the required post-drywall walk-through and the pre-delivery inspection.
Building for the Modern Family.
In what ways does Huron Creek Developments cater to the diverse tastes and needs of their purchasers when designing new homes?
Peter Catana: We always strive to design our homes to compliment current trends. Whether it be open concept, neutral colour palettes or modern finishes, we make our homes with standard finishes we know everyone will love. Purchasing a new build is much like buying a new car, not everyone has the same tastes, wants or needs, which is why we provide our purchasers with a variety of standard selections and the option to make upgrades where they see fit. This means that every Huron Creek Developments homeowner can add their own personal touches to suit their lifestyle and to build the home of their dreams.
To remain relevant in the shift to more remote work and learning, designing multi-functional spaces is at the foreground of new home designs. For instance, open-concept kitchens with islands creates a sharing space for people to cook, eat, socialize, and work all in the same space. Combining multi-functional spaces such as playrooms with bedrooms is a concept we are exploring with optional built-ins for toy storage or optional desk built-ins for learning and work spaces within bedrooms. Another concept we have been expanding on is using smaller spaces in condos such as breakfast nooks to eliminate the need for a whole separate dining room where space is a challenging factor.
New and Exciting Communities.
What factors does the company consider when selecting locations for their developed communities in order to provide access to diverse recreational opportunities and resources?
Rick Martins: We recognize that each and every individual, or family has particular preferences and needs for their living space and have created a uniquely customizable purchasing process to ensure that customer’s homes are built to their satisfaction and suit their particular lifestyle. We offer several developed communities, each with their own look and feel. In addition to changes in design, each community is located near unique resources and recreational opportunities.
One of our projects that is generating a lot of buzz in the new Stanley Park Towns in Simcoe. Consisting of 2 bedroom designs with optional 3rd bedroom, the two storey townhomes will have 30 units ranging from 1471-1559 sq. ft. starting in the high $300’s. Stanley is an exclusive collection of townhomes centrally locate in the town of Simcoe, the heart of Norfolk County. Steps from shopping, groceries, entertainment, sports venues, parks, schools and only 15 minutes to the beaches of Port Dover. At Stanley, there is home design for every lifestyle. From couples to growing families, these park towns are a true reflection of convenience, style, function and home comfort.
We also have Portside At Woodway Trails in Simcoe. A smart collection of 97 bungalows surrounded by parkland and green space, the community is only minutes away from every big city amenity you could possibly need. Woodway Trails is all about contemporary style and function. This sought-after community is nearly sold out with a handful of homes still available priced from the mid $400’s. The two or three bedroom bungalows range from 1465 to 1527 square feet, offering open-concept floorpans, 9; ceilings, with a spacious great room and outdoor patio. Portside at Woodway Trails offers more affordable, convenient and enjoyable living with the small town charm of the local farmer’s market, breweries, wineries, gift and specialty shops. Surrounded by provincial parks and green space, outdoor recreation in limitless. Birding, hiking, camping and cycling are a way of life at Portside.
The Preserve Of Westwood Village is the name of the highly anticipated upcoming Cambridge site in historic West Galt. Nestled within a natural setting surrounded by walking trails and bordering onto RARE preservation centre, the Westwood Village Preserve will feature an envious lifestyle combined with natural living and exceptional amenities. The Preserve offers modern two-storey freehold town home designs and stylish contemporary three and four bedroom single detached homes placed on 38’ 40’ and 42’ lots. The Preserve community is part of a greater master-planned community showcasing a collection of sought after deep lots backing onto protected greenspace.
Focus on Innovation and Efficiency.
What are some of the standards and processes employed by Huron Creek to achieve their goal of setting a new benchmark for forward-thinking building practices?
Rick Martins: Huron Creek is an innovation leader on its own merits, and their goal is to employ a series of standards and processes to usher in a new benchmark for forward-thinking building practices. This includes implementing Resilient Sound Isolation Technology (RSIC’S) that fastens directly to the walls and floor-ceiling assemblies that divide the homes, increasing the floor’s and wall’s ability to absorb impact sound and reduce airborne noise. This significantly reduces the amount of impact and airborne sound filtering from rooms above, below and alongside.
The bulk of our residential noise reduction solutions are built around the need for privacy, comfort, and the lack of noise bleeding through common walls or common floor/ceiling assemblies. With the RSIC Technology, we are able to achieve an even higher rating, providing purchasers with a ‘sound investment’ in better quality built multi-unit homes.
We are deeply committed to reducing the environmental impact of their construction activities and the operating and life-cycle costs of the projects they work on. Green and high-performance building, sustainable construction, and cost-benefit analysis are incorporated into our building approach for every project. Searching for ways to increase the efficiency of your new homes is imperative for us to pass down the energy savings of an efficient home to our homeowners for years to come. Various high-efficiency qualified products have been adopted as included features throughout our homes including high efficiency furnaces and water heaters, Heat Recovery systems (HRVs) that provide proper ventilation, and Energy Star rated triple pane vinyl windows the enhance the thermal barrier.
Peter Catana: Huron Creek is also the first builder in the region to include VisitAble design elements as part of the standard design of the home. The implementation provides seamless integration for the growing need of inclusive and age-friendly creates added value and convenience with: wider hallways, no-step entry and an accessible washroom. What inspired our VisitAble housing is that most of us fail to see the challenges that others face daily when it comes to navigating their own homes. But when you really look to see what little changes can be made that will make a huge difference in how other people can live, why wouldn’t we want to offer inclusive living?. If we work together, we can make and change the conversation which is why Huron Creek Developments is committed to offering homes that are inclusive to all abilities and offer age-friendly living.
Never Start Moving.
How does the Huron Creek team plan to adapt to the changing needs and preferences of modern families?
Peter Catana: Huron Creek continues to be committed to honing their expertise and continues to strive for excellence in the home building industry. We are really proud of our strong past and excited about where we’re headed. We’re not just looking behind us, we’re seeing what’s changing in the world and how can we deliver what the current and future modern family is looking for in a way that doesn’t make them just like their home, but love their home and the community they’re living in.
Rick Martins: For the past year and a half, especially with all the politics that entered into home building with the elections, inclusionary zoning, OMB and Tarion, there were a lot of big files that were put out and a lot of turmoil and uncertainty that was caused in our industry. Let’s stop the car, ask for directions and work together to figure out where we want to go and how to fix this. Because interest rates are going up, and first-time homebuyers are already having a hard time qualifying with the new mortgage rules. We’ve got to tackle that right away, because the goal of homeownership is extremely import. It’s what my parents came here for, it’s what I worked so hard for, it’s what I want for my children and my children’s children.
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