Is LJM Developments the new home market’s best kept secret?

We think we may have stumbled upon one of the best kept secrets in Burlington. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit the head office of LJM Developments and chat with their President, LJ Mian, about their plans for the future.

With a focus on residential and commercial development, LJM Developments has been a major player in the Upper Middle and Appleby area. On the east side of Appleby, just south of Upper Middle, LJM developed Ironstone (with Davies Smith), Burlington’s tallest condo, standing 19-storeys. Ironstone is comprised of 235 units and was completed in 2013.   

Ironstone

When Mian first set his sights on Burlington, this area was just one large field, now it is home to a uniquely designed commercial plaza (where LJM is located), the city’s tallest condo, and LJM is currently in the process of building Appleby Gardens, a boutique seven-storey condo seconds south of Ironstone. Appleby Gardens features 71 units and completion is scheduled for this June.  

There are a few reasons why the plaza across from Ironstone is unlike any you’ve ever seen. All the storefronts are set at a 45 degree angle so every business has equal exposure. There is no back of the building, so the businesses look the same approaching from any direction. The plaza is single-storey but the ceiling heights are over 30’ high, so the interior spaces look incredible. There are very wide walkways for patios. And finally, the City requires 5% landscaping and this plaza has 14%.

There is one more reason why the plaza is unique. LJM has curated the businesses so that neighbourhood residents have access to a wide range of amenities, such as a pharmacy/clinic, restaurants, a dentist, fresh food, a convenience store, a gym, a spa, a Starbucks, and more. LJM even owns a franchise in the plaza, the Fraticelli’s Italian Grill & Lounge.

Mian explained that they will be using the same approach for the commercial space at Waterview Condominiums in Grimsby. Located on Lake Ontario, near Casablanca and the QEW, Phase 1 of Waterview Condos is under construction and Phase 2 is selling now.

Appleby Gardens

Phase 1 and 2 of Waterview Condos are especially interesting to us because it’s the first time we’ve seen a single-loaded residential building. “What single-loaded means is that you have a walkway and every unit is on the right facing the water, there’s nothing on the left. So, everyone gets an equal opportunity for a water view,” Mian explained.

On the side with no units, there are windows and other architectural design elements that will be very striking for the hundreds of thousands of cars that will be driving by it every single day.

Referring to Waterview Condos’ high design, Mian said, “This morning I got a call from my super and he said, ‘we’re using so much concrete, there’s so much overdesign,’ and I said, ‘in my house, my father used to say, there’s no budget for food and education. For our buildings, for concrete and steel, there is no budget.’”    

“At LJM, our focus is not on the bottom line; buildings are for a hundred years, so it’s a legacy that you leave behind, and you need uniqueness in your building,” Mian added.   

In Phase 1 of Waterview Condos, 80% of the purchasers are end-users, mostly downsizers and a few young couples looking to the condo market for a starter home, explained Mian. Phase 1 is 85% sold, and there is still a great selection of units available in Phase 2.  

LJM Developments’ plans for the future

LJ Mian, President, LJM Developments

Not one to rest on their laurels, LJM Developments has a lot in the pipeline. Mian gave us a sneak peek at a couple new developments, one in Burlington and one in Stoney Creek. The Burlington high-rise is planned for a space next to the plaza, and the application to the City is for a 20-storey tower, which would make it taller than Ironstone. The Stoney Creek development is a boutique condo designed by RAW Design.

If you’re interested in the Waterview Condos community in Grimsby, then you will be interested in hearing that LJM has plans for Phase 3, 4, and 5 in the works. But, if you appreciate the single-loaded building design, guaranteeing you a view of the lake, then you need to purchase in Phase 1 or 2 because later phases will be double sided.    

There are also big plans for Grimsby in the brainstorming phase that we’re not at liberty to disclose, but trust us, it’s a very interesting concept that could be a huge leap forward for the way we think about condo amenities.

For more information about LJM Developments’ Appleby Gardens or Waterview Gardens, visit ljmdevelopments.ca.