01/03/10 – Toronto – Small Single Family <2500 sqft

Forgot one other comment. Thanks for pointing out the reality of the homesite using the Streetscape map. Over the weekend, I found several site plans for developments and was saddened to see the lot arrangements. I just can’t wrap my head around what motivates these developers to make such narrow lots (other than more houses=more MONEY). It is depressing to image what those communities will look like when the lots are full! How can anyone justify such configurations. And why would anyone want to live in them? All I can do is shake my head in disbelief.

Comment: Walkscore 42/100
Kitchen/Breakfast nook too big–triangle spread out. Scored 0
Struggled with bedroom category. Ultimately scored 0…Masterbed room poorly arranged with only 1 window at far end. Bathroom takes up valuable window space. Not keen on closet location. Feel room will be dark. Disappointed by that since other bedroom o.k.
Great laundry area with side porch entry–awesome!
Liked this layout better than Cooper but with Masterbedroom issues it scored lower. Ain’t life funny.

Project Name: Cook (French Normandy) no loft

Size: 2325

Project Address: The Meadows in the Glen, Prince St.&20th Side Rd, Glen Williams ON

Project URL: http://www.themeadowsintheglen.ca/fp_bungalow.html

Slow Home Test Score: 12

MollyK,
Thanks for the question, I am sure it is one that others also have.

In devising the test we had to try and balance ease of use with clarity and completeness. Sometimes this does result in some inconsistency. However, my sense is that these balance out over the test.

In the case you mention, you might account for the double living space in orientation and then only consider the family room. Alternatively you could ignore the problem in orientation and only account for it in your evaluation of living space. Overall the result will be similar.

In the end, different people will come up with slightly different scores. This is okay and does not undermine the validity of the test or the project. A point or two difference doesn’t usually make much difference to the overall evaluation of the house and which category it is in.

In terms of your question about the naming of rooms, I would certainly take account of questionable room names. They are a good sign that the house is fast and designed to be sold rather than lived in.

Molly K – thanks for the feedback regarding the Slow Home Test and your specific question about what to do if there is both a living space and a family room.

In my mind, I think of “Living” as the category that applies to all living spaces in the home. So if there are more than one, like in this case, they all must be evaluated. This is consistent with the other categories on the test like “Bathrooms” and “Bedrooms” where you would need to look at all of the spaces that share those functions in order to come to a decision about whether or not to award the point. In all of these cases, it is important to remember that the overall livability of a home can be seriously compromised even if there is (for instance) one really good, well designed bedroom, bathroom etc. and one really badly designed bedroom, bathroom etc. In our example today, I would say that “Living” should get a zero in spite of the fact that the family room is acceptable because the formal living room is so badly designed and is basically useless. That space will always compromise the underlying design of this home.

That is how I would interpret the Test in this example.

As always, I am curious to see what the group thinks about this.

Comments?

Thank you John and Matthew for clarifying that issue with me. I feel much better about scoring now. I must say John’s observation about McDonald’s was a hoot. I’ve always wondered how anyone could take that seriously.
Finally, I just sent a third submission (Liberty Crossing) but did not see it appear on the site. Just wondered if there is a wait time this morning?

Comment: Here’s another to get a sense of the community…not doin’ so good. This time the kitchen opens too much to the breakfast area, the parking while connected this time doesn’t have enough room for getting into or out of your car (let alone for the left side parker to get to the door without leaning on the hood). I gave the bathroom point generously because although I dislike the master’s corner bath, the bathrooms overall area good enough to get the point. As well, this time the access to the outdoor living space is clear enough away from the breakfast table to work.

Project Name: Vellore Village – The Lombardia

Size: 2479 sq ft

Project Address: Emily Anna St, Vaughan, ON

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=69

Slow Home Test Score: 3

Comment: For my first post I found a home with Minto builders. Their “green team” came up with this development in a small town north of Toronto. Part of the property is a duck sanctuary.

Of my looking for this week’s slow home I found this to the slowest floorplan. Organization is sound and here we see NO replication of spaces. One dining and living area on the first floor and face the back of the home with windows on more than one wall. The U kitchen is not too big, has its own pantry, overlooks the family space. The dining room is its own space with a small wall for separation from the kitchen. The family room with windows and fireplace also has access outside. Here you do not walk through the space to get to it. The second floor has an unusual location for the master bedroom- in front. The size is modest at 15 by 12 and the ensuite bath has a toilet tucked to the side with a low wall (who really wants to look at a toilet?) and the dual sink vanity does have storage. The computer loft has natural light, space of around 100 sq feet, and could be easily converted to a closed space. The other two bedrooms have windows to the backyard.

What makes it slow? I was surprised it did score 63 at walk score, has access to the area transit extremely nearby and the grocery is less than 1 km, but I think 70 is the magic number. Also, true to form, this builder does not include a site plan (and google/mapquest are no help) so orientation is unknown. Of course with some more legwork we probably could get something.

Oh almost there!

Project Name: Spring Farm

Size: 2145 – Baldwin

Project Address: 40 Spring Farm Road Aurora, ON

Project URL: http://www.minto.com/buy-a-home-in-toronto/Spring-Farm/Baldwin~210ht.html

Slow Home Test Score: 14

Comment: 57 walk score; homes appear to mainly front east-west, which avoids the (cold) north, but also blocks the (sunny) south… master bath is no good; I’m not sure what use they intend for the “formal room” – either living or dining based upon the resident’s needs, I guess.

Sarah W.

Project Name: Carrington Place

Size: 1663

Project Address: Homestead Rd. & Lawrence Ave, Scarborough

Project URL: http://www.mycarringtonplace.com/hastings.html#top

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Murray,
Great sleuthing–giving us the connection between Westlynn and Teal. Even though the room by room analysis of the 100% plan doesn’t really change, the overall view gives a better representation of exactly how narrow the house is to its length. Imagining this long space right next to another similar long home makes me think of a townhouse. Those side windows in the dining/living may as well not be there for the amount of good they do.
Matthew,
On that note, I agree with your assessment to label living as 0 if there’s a mislabelled space. A plan like this deserves what amounts to a demerit, IMO.

Comment: I used the alternate ground floor.

Project Name: Vaughan Valley Estates – Ruffino

Size: 2159 sq ft

Project Address: 10462-10598 Weston Rd Vaughan, ON

Project URL: http://www.aristahomes.com/new-homes-vaughan/vaughan-valley-estates/floorplans/ruffino

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Oops on the Minto Spring Farm I meant what makes it NOT slow.

Matthew- I look at each space as it functions to its title and how are they overall. Dining is a great example since many of the home plans have bar stools in the kitchen, breakfast nook, and a dining room.

Some look at overall how does it feel and work but I personally cannot let go of also looking more critically at footage for a room and the future furniture. A plan may have a great dining room but lets say the stools do not have enough room behind them to allow circulation(at least 3.5/4 feet). A breakfast nook to me is an area where there should be room for a table for 4 people (in single family you need at least that) and at least 9 by 9 (you need to be able to get into and out of your chair). That size is is increased if there is an outside access door – how much depends on that door. Also increased if they have bar stools sharing the space (do not want to back into someone) with the nook. A nook of 7 by 10 just would not make the cut under any circumstances. So in this example, with two fast dining spaces with one slow, I would have a ZERO for dining.

I admit when we have a living/dining space and family/breakfast space… I would not give a point for a good living space but NOT family space (or dining room versus breakfast nook). I assign more weight in the score of the family room as I assume the family will spend more time there. I may feel more generous with a point if the living is SO SO and the family good.

That is me… anyone else?

Comment: Fast as well!

Project Name: Dreamfields – The Eagle

Size: 2320 sq ft

Project Address: 2748-2894 8th Line Bradford West Gwillimbury, ON

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=171

Slow Home Test Score: 4

Comment: Dedicated this plan to John–check out the angled doors on second floor bedrooms.
walkscore 58/100, barely made it.
Context score No…has useful site plan with lot assignment to floorplans. However, the majority of the lots for this plan face N or S and look very tight side-by-side. Therefore, East and West light is questionable.
Living score 0…isolated front living room will probably not get used & family room suffers from circulation path impeding on furniture placement.
Dining score 0…no true dining room exists on plan. Breakfast area could substitute as dining BUT it is in the circulation path to outside. Don’t think that is very livable.
Bedroom score 0…4 bedrooms simply compromise all livable space on second floor.
Bathroom score 0…lack of abundant natural light makes them dark and cramped.
Garage score 0…eventhough the garage doesn’t dominate the front of the house (it is flush with the entry), it significantly dominates usable square footage inside the home. It’s placement cuts off natural light as well.
Wonder why they stuck 4 bedrooms on the second floor when there is an unfinished basement that could support a 4th bedroom space with full bath.

Project Name: Davisville

Size: 1912

Project Address: Emerald Forest–sales office 538 Victoria St., East, Alliston ON

Project URL: http://www.royalpark.com/emerald/products/davisville-2-storey-home.html#

Slow Home Test Score: 7

Alejandro,
I agree with your comments on “green” being a selling feature. We have to be careful when determining what is legitimate use of green technology/sustainable energy. If a floorplan is not well designed what difference is “green” going to make in the livability of the home.
M.A.M.
I found the Spring Farm floorplan quite nice. I’m not fond of U kitchens without a center island but I thought its application in this plan was good. My only criticism was the lack of a window in the kitchen. I think you found a good plan…wonder how big the lot would be. The floor plan is narrow which makes me think narrow lot which makes me disappointed. Narrow lots mean high density and not much elbow room between houses. Nevertheless I like the plan.

Comment: No info to give the Context point, parking was too narrow to move around in and dominates the facade. The living area is too disconnected from outdoors. This community is Energy Star AND a good location. Exactly what I was talking about (icing on the cake).

Project Name: Spring Farm – Baldwin

Size: 2145 sq ft

Project Address: 40 Spring Farm Road, Aurora, ON

Project URL: http://www.minto.com/buy-a-home-in-toronto/Spring-Farm/Baldwin~210ht.html

Slow Home Test Score: 15

Comment: Here we have a developer with a little more on their website. Note the notes on the actual floorplans. They also play up their green features – http://www.heathwoodrichmondhill.com/projects/forestBrook/livinggreen.html.

What is wonderful about this home is that we have a good location and context. The second bath is segmented. What not to like- The First floor hall wraps around the garage and stair so we can get to the laundry and back entry. The back entry has too many doors coming into it. Someone is bound to get their head smacked. Weird wall angles in secondary bedrooms, the closets protrude into them, and the master closet is too shallow (should have been a non walk in ).

Project Name: Forestbrook of Richmond Hill

Size: 2191- rosewood

Project Address: Rothbury Rd Richmond Hill ON

Project URL: http://www.heathwoodrichmondhill.com/projects/forestBrook/floorplans/rosewood.html

Slow Home Test Score: 16

M.A.M. – thanks for your insight into how you score the Slow Home Test – you and I have a similar sensibility and I totally agree with your comments about furniture placement and dimensions. I think that the most important thing with the TEST is to be consistent with your rationale, but still have an understanding that there is always going to be a level of interpretation that will vary as the plans vary and will vary from person to person. As long as we are using the Test, we are thinking critically about the design and to me, that is the most important thing.

Comment: -Walkscore of 35
-no specific information on site context
-assuming optional gas fireplace
-no infomration on exterior/outdoor space
-kitchen is fine, pantry is a weird shape that does negatively affect furniture placement in living/dining
- laundry closet on 2nd floor (no work space)

Project Name: The Elmdale at Spring Creek

Size: 1937 sq ft

Project Address: Dundas St and Cedar Springs Rd

Project URL: http://www.sunfieldhomes.com/springcreek/Elmdale.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: -walkscore of 35
-no information on site context
-front covered porch is a good size to accomodate a funiture grouping
-all bedrooms have front or rear exposure
-good size laundry room

Project Name: The Grandview at Soring Creek

Size: 1973 sq ft

Project Address: Dundas St and Cedar Springs Rd

Project URL: http://www.sunfieldhomes.com/springcreek/Grandview.html

Slow Home Test Score: 11

Comment: -Walkscore of 28
-no specific information on site context
-entry includes front “foyer”/staircase
-no information on exterior space
-good size laundrdy room

Project Name: The Loganberry in Thornberry

Size: 2177 sq ft

Project Address: Rutherford Rd and Dufferin Street

Project URL: http://www.tiffanyparkhomes.com/thornberry_loganberry.html

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Comment: project 2

Project Name: 58 glen echo road

Size: NA

Project Address: 58 glen echo road

Project URL: http://juliekinnear.com/toronto-houses/58-glen-echo-road/floor_plan.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment: -walkscore of 28
-no information on site context or environmental performance
- upper porch is just for decoration – not a real exterior entertaining space
-

Project Name: The Sugarberry at Thornberry

Size: 2385 sq ft

Project Address: Rutherford Rd and Dufferin Street

Project URL: http://www.tiffanyparkhomes.com/thornberry_sugarberry.html

Slow Home Test Score: 7

Comment: 77 walk score; context depends on specific lot (in the site plan, some are great, some are lousy); wasted space in master & bedroom two is very small; the powder room is laughably small, but the other bathrooms are okay; I took the laundry point away because I would hate carrying it up and down from the basement to the second floor every week – personal preference. =)

Project Name: East Gate (Berkeley model)

Size: 1481

Project Address: Hwy. 401 & Markham Road, Toronto

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/eastgate_berkeleyflp.html

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment: Project 6

Project Name: Harvest Hills – Emmer

Size: 2,294

Project Address: 1 Lady Gwillim Avenue

Project URL: http://www.minto.com/buy-a-home-in-toronto/Harvest-Hills/Emmer~247ht.html

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Comment: I was generous with the organization point. Front entry is good, back is missing a closet (again I’m being nice), I wonder why the ‘great room’ isn’t just called the living room… The dining room is stuck in the sideyard, the laundry is stuck in the basement. Since I gave the organization point, I’m taking away the bedroom point because of those master closets (you can only open ONE at a time, and even then you block the access to the bathroom! how annoying for your partner!) And when you look at the master ensuite, it has a giant sized floor area. Oh and I would have liked to see a deeper island to accomodate a bar in the kitchen.

Project Name: Castlemore – The Thames

Size: 1905 sq ft

Project Address: 9800 The Gore Rd Brampton, ON

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=182

Slow Home Test Score: 6

Comment: -Walkscore of 32
-no information on lot orientation, environmental performance or exterior space
-awkward andgled fireplace in “family centre” makes furniture placement very difficult, “living room” is also awkward due to angled hallway (very little to no space once the dining room table is in the space)
-master ensuite has too much wasted space for the tub deck
-no study
-good size laundry room

Project Name: The Phoenix at Mesa

Size: 2180 sq ft

Project Address: Promenade Drive and Anderson Street, Whitby

Project URL: http://www.denoblehomes.com/images/communities/mesa/floorplans/phoenix.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Comment: 98 walk score; context unavailable; I don’t like the kitchen & dining because the island is awkward, and I don’t feel that the breakfast nook is big enough for comfortable daily use by a family. I also think that the living/dining area at the front of the house seems a bit small for both uses; I think it would go unused (with the residents using the back of the house instead); if there is enough space for a “master’s retreat”, shouldn’t there be enough space for a double vanity in the bathroom?? (also, the “retreat” cracks me up – it looks like someone should be making speeches off that balcony); the washer/dryer door should have been on the other side (so it doesn’t block the bathroom)… wow, I nitpicked this one – I guess that happens when you do so many!

Sarah W.

Project Name: Oakdale Village

Size: 2418

Project Address: Hwy 400 & Hwy 401, Toronto

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/oakdale_oakdaleflp.html

Slow Home Test Score: 11

Hi MollyK we are looking at same development :) These are so narrow.

I had no others to post FYI.

Comment: The living room in this house is terrible. The location of the Laundry room is perfect if you like to fold your laundry in the kitchen. The counter space in the kitchen seems a bit small for the size of the house. The Walkability score was also only an 18.

Project Name: Lake Side Meadow

Size: 2286 sqft

Project Address: 4950 baseline rad, sutton on

Project URL: http://www.ballymorehomes.com/lakeside/hastings_2.html

Slow Home Test Score: 14

Comment: walk score 15

Project Name: West Village – Town Manor 2

Size: 1675 sqft

Project Address: 60 Dungannon Drive, Unionville, ON

Project URL: http://www.kylemorecommunities.com/comm_coming/westvill/fp_template_2.html?cid=1&model=1&plan=1

Slow Home Test Score: 5

Comment: walk score 25

Project Name: Spring Creek – The Aspendale A

Size: 1508 sqft

Project Address: Dundas St. E. & Cedar Springs Rd., Waterdown, ON

Project URL: http://www.sunfieldhomes.com/springcreek/Aspendale.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: walk score 3

Project Name: Dreamfields – The Sandpiper

Size: 1840 sqft

Project Address: 8th Line and 10th Sideroad, Bradford, ON

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=170

Slow Home Test Score: 7

Comment: 63 walk score; available lots back onto Ducks Unlimited Sanctuary; homes are “Energy Star” rated; flow on main floor is a bit weird/off; bedroom 3 is pretty small (okay for a nursery or guest room, I suppose). I actually quite like this house. I wish there was an informal dining area for everyday use, but at least there is a defined dining area! Depending on the chosen lot, this could be a nice home, IMO.
-Sarah W.

Project Name: Spring Farm (Baldwin model)

Size: 2145

Project Address: 40 Spring Farm Road, Aurora

Project URL: http://www.minto.com/buy-a-home-in-toronto/Spring-Farm/Baldwin~210ht.html

Slow Home Test Score: 18

Comment:

Project Name: The Monet

Size: 2005

Project Address: Bathurst St and Bloomington RD

Project URL: http://www.ballymorehomes.com/renaissance/index.html

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Comment: The kitchen is unnecessairly massive, there’s a lot of wasted space on the loft level and in the master bathroom, and the overall floorplan is convoluted. Does anyone REALLY need a 3 car garage?

Project Name: The Michelangelo

Size: 2350

Project Address: Bathurst St and Bloomington RD

Project URL: http://www.newinhomes.com/ontario/aurora-development-2828/floorplans-15664.html

Slow Home Test Score: 5

Comment: The bare minimum in environmental performance, they make it sound good but they did not try to go above and beyond anywhere. Again the kitchen is not bad, but the dining room seems a bit small.

Project Name: Aspen Springs Country Classics

Size: 1493/1503 sq ft.

Project Address: 10 Aspen Springs Drive

Project URL: http://www.kaitlingroup.net/s/new-homes/aspen-springs/floorplans/evelyne.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 13

Joti good point on that master closet on The Thames. That wasted space in the bath- it is like 15 long and they do not even segment the toilet! Wonder what they were thinking when designing this.

Comment: This plan has two major points against it in my opinion:
1 the kitchen island doesn’t need to be turned 45 degrees

Project Name: Collingwood, Blueshores

Size: 1454 sqft

Project Address: 5 Cranberry Trail

Project URL: http://www.kaitlingroup.net/s/new-homes/blue-shores/floorplans/blu_tal.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment:

Project Name: The Conlins

Size: 2040

Project Address: Morrish and ellesmere , Scarborough, on

Project URL: http://www.southmills.ca/site.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment:

Project Name: Queens

Size: 1800

Project Address: East Gate Development

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/eastgate_queensflp.html

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Comment: Whew. I guess when the community is called Churchill, you’d feel the need to scale everything up. There’s wasted space galore, awful circulation, bad proportions on most spaces. Master is sprawling, and the design seems to forget to design the other bedrooms! Terrible closets for all! Master ensuite has a huge floor area (for post (or pre) shower dancing I guess?).Huge dining room. But then, to contrast all of this giantness, there’s no study space at all, not even a desk, and the garage has no room to move even if you could get out after parking. Terrible.

Project Name: Churchill – The Berkshire

Size: 2340 sq ft

Project Address: Southwick St Mississauga, ON

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=120

Slow Home Test Score: 3

Comment: If you are looking for a house that feels like a trailer, this is your place. I just dislike the whole thing, even the kitchen was a very week yes.

Project Name: The Horizon

Size: 1430 sqft

Project Address: Barrie St and Holland St E

Project URL: http://www.lormelhomes.com/projects/index.php?project=bradford&sub=models_and_floorplans&subModels=38&floorPlan=Haydon

Slow Home Test Score: 7

Comment: **Includes loft, took den option on main, bed 3 on upper**

Project Name: Greensborough, The Willow

Size: 2250 sq ft

Project Address: 73-79 Saffron St Markham, ON

Project URL: http://www.madisonhomes.ca/greensborough/f_willow.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: I found some Environmental Performance systems on the feature sheet. They aren’t advertised, but they are added. I like this approach. Instead of using ‘green-ness’ to sell the home, they just make it lighter on energy and water use without making a big fuss about it. I think that these kinds of systems should be a given – it just makes sense to put in the most efficient furnace or water conserving w/d and dishwasher if you can here in Canada.

Project Name: Enchanted Forest – Emerald 100

Size: 2440 sq ft

Project Address: 430 19th Line, Richmond Hill

Project URL: http://www.royalpinehomes.com/ench-emerald200.html

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Comment: walkscore of 6

Project Name: Milton Trails – Woodward

Size: 1895 sq ft

Project Address: 3075-3399 Derry Rd W Milton, ON

Project URL: http://www.aristahomes.com/new-homes-milton/milton-trails/floorplans/woodward

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: The “living room” isn’t a room at all: it’s a name for the extra space at the end of the dining room that makes it sound like that mistake was intentional. You could never fit an arrangement of furniture there. Maybe this is your chance to buy an table that seats 12 (trust me, it’ll fit). I like the door to the yard, I don’t have to walk around the dinette set to check the bbq.

Project Name: MacKenzie Chase – Windsor 100

Size: 2450 sq ft

Project Address: Ivy Glen Dr and Dufferin St, Vaughan, ON

Project URL: http://www.royalpinehomes.com/windsor100.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: This one’s a shoebox. Bad circulation, duplicated major spaces, and random angles and jogs just to make things go from bad to worse.

Project Name: Carruther’s Creek Village , Honey Creek

Size: 1663 sq. ft.

Project Address: 141-199 angier crescent, Ajax

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/carruthers_honeyflp.html

Slow Home Test Score: 4

Comment: walk score of 45%

Does this really get points for entry? There is an entry space, although the closet seems to be disjointed with the rest of the space.
uh. Funny how they try to sell the stair landing as a “computer niche”. wow, they are creative with their marketing.
I didn’t give points to Laundry as they seemed to just have dumped it in the unfinished basement.

Project Name: North Star Homes / the Coronet

Size: 1614 sq. ft.

Project Address: King Road and Richmond hill

Project URL: http://builder.homebuyers.com/our_communities/kings_crossing/overview.htm

Slow Home Test Score: 3

Comment: After watching the video I decided to go to that community and check out a different floorplan just to see if this was a particularly bad one from that subdivision or not, and sure enough, it’s average (averagely bad).

Project Name: Gates of Countryside – The Jordan

Size: 2640 sq ft

Project Address: 80 Dewside Dr Brampton, Ontario

Project URL: http://www.regalcresthomes.com/communities/floorplans.php?home=134

Slow Home Test Score: 5

Comment: Walk score of 77%
Orientation – there are different options for the orientation of the Chapelle home (on site map), but for this test, I considered north is up.

Project Name: Acorn Homes / Chapelle

Size: 1856 sq. ft.

Project Address: 6 Valley Vista Dr.

Project URL: http://acorn.homebuyers.com/roxborough/roxborough_floor_plans/RB_Chapelle.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 13

Comment: Similar community to the ones Joti Singh posted, but a different builder for this one (Royal Pine Homes). In spite of the site plan, I didn’t give the context point because I think that the design tries to follow a picturesque aerial form (that looks good in the drawing and from a helicopter) but has absolutely no relation to the sun. It seems like it is just trying to suggest this Ebeneezer Howard thing, of course without ever READING Howard. Also, the feature sheet shows some enviro-features like low e glass, hi eff. furnace, spray foam, etc.

Project Name: Castlemore Crossing – The Blue Cedar

Size: 2070 sq ft

Project Address: 9343-9869 The Gore Rd Brampton, ON

Project URL: http://www.royalpinehomes.com/castlecross_38_1.html

Slow Home Test Score: 9

Comment: Dominique.

Project Name: West town

Size: 2246 sq ft

Project Address:

Project URL: http://www.hr-newhomes.com/%28rsekxb45znmnbh45be1nwi45%29/westown/ModelDetails.aspx?Community=19&Series=89&Model=300&ModelNo=2246

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Let me first say I live in Toronto. Now let me say what a crappy collection of new homes are being built in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Completely uninspired, boring and, frankly, just plain bad. Some of the locations are a handy 2 hour commute each way, although, I cannot complain too much here since LA suffered a similar problem. At least in LA people are doing some innovative work. Here, traditional garbage. Very disappointing…

Tomorrow I’ll tell you what I really think! :)

Comment: 98 on the walkability score!

~Dominique

Project Name: Kettleby

Size: 2710

Project Address: The Mills at Highland Creek Euclid Ave and Scarboro Ave

Project URL: http://www.newinhomes.com/ontario/toronto-development-2493/floorplans-13215.html

Slow Home Test Score: 14

Comment: Too many

~Dominique

Project Name: Element

Size: 2519

Project Address: ,

Project URL: http://www.newinhomes.com/ontario/toronto-development-3037/floorplans-19538.html

Slow Home Test Score: 5

BradW,
Where have you been all day?!
Soooo…you’re not real impressed with the pickins’? Gee, I can’t figure out how you end up saying what I’m always thinking. This evening I’ve been mulling over the selections and I find myself saying…”maybe tomorrow will be better.” It’s that feeling you get when you just put your head down on the desk and sigh. Since the secret is out and you live in Toronto perhaps you have some ideas why the plans are coming up short? If not tonight maybe tomorrow?

Comment: This is quite far out of Toronto. Car dependent but the site plan shows us lots of options for orientation.

This builder boasts about the widelots (34 and 43 wide I looked at).

For this plan I choose the B Elevation as the garage seems more minimized in dominance of the front. Something to like is it is a 1.5 bath home. The kitchen and eating are a good size. A Den! Organization is there.

What is not to like? The bedroom closets, some NOOK in one, no door to the bath in the master. Kitchen needs another window and some design help- as it has wasted space and may I say too much counter (how can that be in a place this size?).

Project Name: Mill Pond in Cambridge

Size: 1702

Project Address: 186 Garth Massey Drive cambridge ON

Project URL: http://www.mattamyhomes.com/Gta/Communities/Cambridge/D43/Amberfield/Amberfield.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 13

Comment: A smaller community that is way out of Toronto. This is a smaller plan.

The bedrooms suffer. Not all face back and front. The master has a direct view into the bathroom and the walk in seems excessive to the size of the room. The dining space in the kitchen is not big enough to handle the stools and a table plus access outside. The powder room is on a landing.

The organization has it where little is spent on hallways. The living room looks ok on paper and has a nice large back window. The one car garage is not dominating. The bathrooms are adequate.

Project Name: Ancaster Arbor

Size: 1456

Project Address: 500 Kitty Murry Lane Ancaster, ON

Project URL: http://www.mattamyhomes.com/GTA/Communities/Ancaster/D30/Plan3lily/Plan3lily.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Like Brad, I’ve been kind of shocked at how there are so many of these neo-traditional homes still being built around Toronto. I thought TO was the centre of Canada’s design community…looks like there’s been more progress out west to design more individualistic developments, often with more attention to so-called Green advances.

Someone made a comment about the “great room” and wondered about the term. I may be wrong, but I think this is a term popularized in the US. Twenty years ago when I first bought houseplan books to peruse, the US ones were those that seemed to like this term for a large living room. I think the concept behind it was to stop having a “living” room and a “family” room and just have one “great” room.

Comment:

Project Name: Empire, Heritage Meadows

Size: 2000 sq. ft.

Project Address: Located at Highway 48 and 16th Avenue in historic Markham, Heritage Meadows

Project URL: http://www.ballantryhomes.com/Public/FloorPlan.aspx?Level=1&ModelID=42

Slow Home Test Score: 5

Comment:

Project Name: GREEN VALLEY

Size: 1855 Sq. Ft.

Project Address: Located at Highway 48 and 16th Avenue in historic Markham, Heritage Meadows

Project URL: http://www.ballantryhomes.com/Public/HomeDetailInfo.aspx?ID=27

Slow Home Test Score: 7