Our Customers Love Our Condos – E6: Kevin D.
Our Customers Love Our Condos – Episode Six: Kevin D. At the Molinaro Group, customer satisfaction is our #1 priority. It’s why so many of our customers buy more than one condo from us. In this series of videos, we proudly give our customers a platform to share their thoughts on our condos, our team and Burlington.
Paradigm Grand Phase One Back Story
In Episode 4 of our “Building A Better Burlington” series, Molinaro Group’s senior executive team shares the origins of Paradigm. The award-winning development, which was always meant to be a master planned, five building community, began with the launch and construction of the first three buildings on the north end of the site. But long before that happened, the Molinaro Group had a vison for how the land should be re-zoned to accommodate residential – an idea that was unheard for the area, which the Molinaro Group later named Midtown. And yet, despite its initial success, Paradigm still faced obstacles that delayed the final phase, Paradigm Grand, by over two years.
How Paradigm Grand became an Underdog Story
How Paradigm Grand became an Underdog Story Image: Burlington City Hall – One has to wonder how Paradigm Grand’s unanticipated two-year+ delay impacted Burlington’s housing market. The original vision behind Paradigm Grand can be condensed into a few simple concepts, all of which now seem prescient in retrospect. The Molinaro Group saw underdeveloped land in an underrated midtown area of a still unheralded mid-sized city, and believed a master-planned lifestyle community was the right fit. Very few people agreed, at first. With 2023 on the horizon, a swirl of emotions is coursing through the leadership team at the Molinaro Group as they prepare to flip the calendar and watch The Grand Finale of the Paradigm project march toward completion. “We’re feeling joy, excitement, gratitude, and perhaps the slightest hint of redemption,” said Sam DiSanto, Managing Director of the Group. While most of those emotions are obvious, “Redemption” requires some background. Sam continues: “Back in 2008, apart from us, there were very few believers in a residential project on Fairview. That whole area was meant to be big box land. We had a vision for something entirely different. But it took a lot of work to get others to see it, too.” And as Group President Vince Molinaro has shared, “We definitely saw something other developers, and even the city, just didn’t see… but we knew our concept would work. So, it feels great to know how well buyers and the city, as a whole, have gotten behind our concept at this location.” Location, in this case, was more than just a piece of land. It was also the site for a massive investment to create a transit hub, including GO trains and bus service. “The transit element is a very European approach, and because all three of us have travelled throughout Europe together, we saw this kind of residential development in a lot of cities,” said Robert Molinaro, Executive VP at Molinaro. “It just made sense to bring this idea to Burlington.” Even Great Ideas Face Opposition Despite its being an ambitious, long-term, high value development, the likes of which the city had never seen before, Paradigm faced various degrees of resistance; what some might call NIMBYism. Oddly, the backyard for Paradigm was a railway corridor. “Objections often come from being ill-informed or misinformed so, we made a huge effort to share the vision and to detail its many benefits to the city,” said DiSanto. “And even that wasn’t always enough.” Now, almost 14 years since inception, it feels strange to see the real estate industry and governments at all levels, under fire for not building enough housing of all kinds to satisfy the demands and needs of buyers. “We have pent-up demand from new Canadians and the frustrated offspring of current homeowners anxious to fulfill their own dream of home ownership, pinched by a market with too little inventory and daunting prices throughout the Golden Horseshoe and beyond,” said Linda Davies, Founding Broker of Davies Condos, the Molinaro’s long time exclusive broker for Paradigm. “We’re the last people to say ‘we told you so,’” said Robert Molinaro. “Far from it; but we were convinced Burlington was a diamond in the rough with untapped potential as a vibrant, desirable place to live, work and raise a family.” And it would be on a vacant lot, in what the Molinaro Group actually named ‘midtown,’ that the perfect spot existed to execute a grand vision. One that would see an ultra-modern condominium development that would come to be a new standard for Burlington. Sam DiSanto says the driving force behind the origins of Paradigm can be distilled to a single word: patience. “When we started looking at that property it was 2007. We knew transit was going to be extremely important,” he said. “So, we strongly encouraged the landowners to have the site re-zoned for mixed use and residential. At first, they disagreed but eventually took our advice. And when the zoning was in place, they reached back to us and we jumped on the deal. The rest is history.” A Done Deal, Almost Undone History had to wait. As the first Phase of Paradigm sold out, consisting of three towers at the north end of the property, plans were already well underway – and mostly approved – to begin the launch of the remaining two towers that would front onto Fairview. But the election cycle in local politics took over and more delays were put in place that delayed the launch of Paradigm Grand for over two years. It’s pure speculation, but one has to wonder how that delay impacted the market of eager buyers then who are now facing higher prices and equally higher financing costs. “These things happen and while they are frustrating, we stayed focused on the future and kept working with the city to move the final phase forward,” said Robert. “And that patience paid off when we got the green light to move ahead about a year ago.” Solving the current housing crisis will take even more resolve and imagination in the years ahead. Based on today’s media headlines, it seems certain demand will only rise. “The vision we had 15 years ago wasn’t based on a precise prediction about what’s going on today,” said Vince. “But we always look ahead, so our concept at Paradigm was right back then and now, with Paradigm Grand moving forward, it’s even more so now.”
Paradigm Grand Customer Appreciation Event
Paradigm Grand Customer Appreciation Event a Great Success Customer Appreciation Event The Paradigm Grand Customer Appreciation Event welcomed dozens of buyers who enjoyed delicious refreshments in the newly opened space dedicated to showcasing Paradigm Grand. It was a great opportunity to reinforce the personal relationships we have with our buyers. Building relationships is a core value of the Molinaro Group which was on full display at the Paradigm Grand Customer Appreciation Event. Held October 24th, 2022 at the Molinaro Presentation Centre in midtown Burlington, the event welcomed dozens of buyers who enjoyed delicious refreshments in the newly opened space dedicated to showcasing Paradigm Grand. It also was an ideal opportunity for everyone to connect in person, given most of the buyers had purchased via Zoom meetings. As one visitor shared, “I really enjoyed the face time with the Molinaro and Davies Teams. They’re all very candid and straight talking people which I think everybody really appreciated.”
Our Customers Love Our Condos! Episode 5 – Guy P.
Our Customers Love Our Condos! Quality of construction and an unbeatable Midtown Burlington location were key reasons that motivated Guy P. to purchase a condo at Paradigm Phase One. At the Molinaro Group, customer satisfaction is our #1 priority. It’s why so many of our customers buy more than one condo from us. In this series of videos, we proudly give our customers a platform to share their thoughts on our condos, our team and Burlington. Paradigm Grand is now selling.Visit our Sales Centre: 761 Brant St at Ghent Hours: Tuesday & Thursday: 4PM to 7PM and Saturday & Sunday: 1PM to 4PM or call 289-301-9734 to book an appointment.
Construction Update:The Big Crane is Taken Down
Major Milestone: The Big Crane is Taken Down Just recently, Illumina’s main tower crane was skillfully dismantled and taken away. Robert Molinaro was on hand as a skilled team of gutsy professionals at the very top of the crane, and on the ground, wrangled the huge structure safely and securely to waiting transport vehicles. “Just amazing to watch these guys work,” said Robert.
Illumina Construction Update: “Outside and Inside, a Great View!”
Illumina Construction Update – September “Outside and Inside, a Great View!” Even though cooler weather returns this September 2022, things continue to heat up at Illumina. Robert Molinaro is back on site with a brief tour, outside and inside, to showcase Illumina’s dynamic façade and to show off the quality finishes in Illumina’s suites. Call us at (905) 631-8358 or visit our appointments page to book an appointment.
The Emotional Summons of Hometown Connection
The Emotional Summons of Hometown Connection The history of the Molinaro Group in Burlington goes back decades. To say that there’s a deep emotional connection is at best a huge understatement since the original groundwork for Paradigm Grand began in humble circumstances in the 1960s. It has only gained momentum via numerous award-winning projects over the ensuing decades. Company President Vince and his brother, Executive Vice-President Robert Molinaro, are first-generation Canadians who grew up watching their father Domenic begin his career with a family starter home and eventually become the most progressive and innovative condo developer in the area. The company and the city have risen in lockstep together as more people become aware of Burlington as a great place to live. Molinaro Group buildings set the local standard for excellence. That deep sense of community pervades everything they do and they want their legacy to reflect those values and create the same bond with their customers. Creating a meaningful connection for future residents of Paradigm Grand, and now the Finale, first meant locating the project in what was coined “midtown” Burlington. This was an underused area centrally-located among residential neighbourhoods, parks and a soon-to-be major transportation hub (GO station). Unlike many high-rise condo developments, this one takes full advantage of its urban setting without becoming distanced. A Master Plan for the Paradigm To achieve that intimate connection the original master plan called for the project to focus on key objectives: Remain connected to the surrounding area, physically and emotionally Become thoroughly integrated with local traffic and services Provide expansive views and open spaces that eliminate visible barriers Create a lifestyle community “within a community” built on all of the above As the Grand Finale winds down to completion, Vince Molinaro has a profound sense of satisfaction that those goals were met. In his words, Paradigm Grand residents have every reason to feel that they have invested in more than just a dwelling but a real home that has everything you would find in a small town. “’The amenities in the building are what give the building life. We have pools, we have the outdoor terraces, theatre room, party room, the gym. This is where people congregate; this is where people make memories, this is where people make their new friends. “This is the lifestyle we envisioned when we created this project. We are proud to say it’s a “Molinaro building” which comes with its own high standards. This Grand Finale is the whole expression of our vision for this development,” he says. The addition of office and ground level retail space in the design of the front towers further adds to the sense of inclusion for project architect Barry Graziani: “The way I feel about the project is now it’s coming to a conclusion and we’re going to put those last few pieces in, there’s a sense of relief seeing these buildings that we construct becoming a small part of a bigger idea of creating this city. Having the people that live here enjoying it and utilizing it is the ultimate goal.” Some residents might actually work where they live; grocery shopping, restaurants and local businesses are only steps away on Fairview Street. Navigating the area on foot or by bicycle are viable options. You might not need to go outside the building but becoming a hermit is out of the question considering the proximity of parks, unique shops. Of course, the stunning Burlington waterfront is mere blocks away. The Emotional Summons of Hometown Connection The Molinaros are always aware of the emotional factor, too. They’ve been highly visible in the city as proud corporate citizens, supporting local causes without conscious grandstanding. Their initiatives include an expansive community garden on land donated by the company, and a series of spectacular murals created by accomplished artists. These works have transformed once derelict street corners into vibrant destinations and points of civic pride. Consistent with the firm’s history, the benefits have been reciprocal. There is no mistaking the pleasure in Rob’s voice when he talks about achieving that near-perfect balance between high-rise living and low-rise sociability. “Burlington is a lovely city. It’s more relaxed, the people are great,” Rob says. “It still has all the big city amenities. Burlington is an area where you can just spread your wings. We’re not confined – it’s truly all-encompassing.” Paradigm’s Grand Finale; it couldn’t have happened any place else. Learn more about Paradigm Grand.
Paradigm Grand – The Grand Finale
The Paradigm Grand -The Grand Finale Ever since Paradigm was launched, the development has been a watershed moment for the city of Burlington. It set a new standard of excellence in land use, design, and environmental sustainability. Innovations that have yet to be surpassed or even equalled… until now. With the launch of Paradigm Grand, the Molinaro Group’s full vision for their site in Midtown Burlington is coming to fruition.
Jeremy & Rose
Our Customers Love Our Condos – Episode Four: Jeremy & Rose At the Molinaro Group, customer satisfaction is our #1 priority. It’s why so many of our customers buy more than one condo from us. In this series of videos, we proudly give our customers a platform to share their thoughts on our condos, our team and Burlington.
